1st Edition

Astronomy Through the Ages The Story Of The Human Attempt To Understand The Universe

By Sir Robert Wilson Copyright 1997
    320 Pages
    by CRC Press

    320 Pages
    by CRC Press

    From an historical perspective, this text presents an entirely non- mathematical introduction to astronomy from the first endeavours of the ancients to the current developments in research enabled by cutting edge technological advances. Free of mathematics and complex graphs, the book nevertheless explains deep concepts of space and time, of relativity and quantum mechanics, and of origin and nature of the universe. It conveys not only the intrinsic fascination of the subject, but also the human side and the scientific method as practised by Kepler, defined and elucidated by Galileo, and then demonstrated by Newton.

    Preface; Part One: The Early Developments in Astronomy: The Beginning 1. Ancient Astronomy 2. The Greeks 3. The Interlude 4. The Renaissance; Part Two: The Era of the Telescope: The Classical Post-Newtonian Period 5. The New Natural Philosophy 6. Astronomy in the Early Twentieth Century; Part Three: Modern Astronomy: The New Astronomies 7. Probing the Solar System 8. The Stars - Their Birth, Life and Death 9. The Great Astronomical Discoveries of the Post-War Years 10. Cosmology: The Nature, Origin and Evolution of the Universe; Epilogue; Glossary; Index

    Biography

    Wilson, Sir Robert