Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Aug 1995
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995gha..book.....t&link_type=abstract
General History of Astronomy, Edited by Reni Taton and Curtis Wilson, pp. 295. ISBN 0521351685. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univers
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Part B of Planetary Astronomy from the Renaissance to the Rise of Astrophysics continues the history of celestial mechanics and observational discovery through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It provides a synoptic view of the main developments and furnishes details about the lives, ideas, and interactions of the various astronomers involved. Twelve different authors have contributed their expertise to this book that begins with the reception of Newton's inverse-square law. In the remainder, a large place is given to the development of the mathematical theory of celestial mechanics from Clairaut and Euler to LeVerrier, Newcomb, Hill, and Poincaré. This emphasis is balanced by other chapters on observational discoveries and the rapprochement of observation and theory (for instance, the discovery of Uranus and the asteroids, use of Venus transits to refine solar parallax, introduction of the method of least squares, and the development of planetary and satellite ephemerides). Lists of "Further Reading" provide entrée to the literature of the several topics. This book will be of great interest to historians of science and astronomers.
Hoskin Michael
Taton René
Wilson Curtis
No associations
LandOfFree
The General History of Astronomy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The General History of Astronomy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The General History of Astronomy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1270363