Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Space

Review: Heaven's Touch by James B. Kaler

By Marcus Chown

19 August 2009

Âé¶¹´«Ã½. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Celestial influence

(Image: Gerard Fritz / Rex Features)

Riding the wave.  The Severn bore's bumper tide is caused by the moon

Riding the wave. The Severn bore’s bumper tide is caused by the moon

(Image: Jim Nicholls)

is a sight to see. When this moving speed bump of water races round a bend in the UK’s longest river, spouting spray up onto the bank and startling the swans, you can’t quite believe your eyes. It is hard to believe that the moon, a quarter of a million miles away, reaches out with its gravitational fingers to fashion such a localised thing. But the Severn bore is striking evidence, if…

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