In “Chasing Venus” Andrea Wulf tells the extraordinary story of the first scientific collaboration – set admid warring armies, savage weather and bitter rivalries. On two days in 1761 and 1769, astronomers across the world cast their eyes to the sky to witness a rare sight: Venus travelling across the face of the sun. The two transits were to become the most significant astronomical events in scientific history, as by recording the path of Venus and comparing results, these men hoped to calculate the dimensions of our solar system – one of the most pressing questions of the Enlightenment. ‘Chasing Venus’ is told as a race across the world and features a cast of some of the most recognisable names in world history – Benjamin Franklin, James Cook, Mason and Dixon, and Catherine the Great amongst others – ‘Chasing Venus’ is a thrilling adventure story, a tale of personal tragedy and obsession, and an inspiring account of Enlightenment science and man’s quest to understand nature.