| Description |
1 online resource (xv, 302 pages) : illustrations (some color) |
| Series |
Princeton Legacy Library |
|
Princeton legacy library.
|
| Contents |
Part I. The early developments in astronomy ; The beginning -- Ancient astronomy -- The Greeks -- The interlude -- The Renaissance -- Part II. The era of the telescope ; The classical post-Newtonian period -- The new natural philosophy -- Astronomy in the early twentieth century -- Part III. Modern astronomy ; The new astronomies -- Probing the solar system -- The stars : their birth, life and death -- The great post-war astronomical discoveries -- The nature, origin and evolution of the universe -- Epilogue |
| Summary |
In "Astronomy through the Ages," Sir Robert Wilson tells the story of how our understanding of the universe has evolved through history--how the sedate, stable star field of ancient times has been replaced by the vast, explosive universe of today. Wilson begins by tracing the astronomical studies of the ancient Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, moves through important contributions from India, China, and the Islamic world. The development of the sun-centered model of the universe in Renaissance Europe is followed by the development of the telescope, photography, and spectroscopy. These pushed back the limits of the observable universe and brought astronomy into the twentieth century. Finally, the rapid advances in radio and space astronomy over the past fifty years that have ushered in a new "golden age" of astronomy are explored. While focusing on the human side of astronomical discovery, Wilson also provides readers with a basic understanding of difficult concepts, explaining relativity and quantum mechanics without using technical language or mathematics. Remarkable in its scope and clarity, this book provides an accessible view of historical discoveries and modern advances and shows why excitement about astronomy is even greater today than when Galileo first gazed in wonder at the rings of Saturn |
| Bibliography |
Includes glossary (pages 281-292), bibliographical references (pages 293-294), and index |
| Notes |
Print version record |
| Subject |
Astronomy -- History
|
|
Astronomical instruments -- History
|
|
SCIENCE -- Astronomy.
|
|
Astronomical instruments
|
|
Astronomy
|
| Genre/Form |
Instructional and educational works
|
|
History
|
|
Instructional and educational works.
|
|
Matériel d'éducation et de formation.
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| ISBN |
9781400887514 |
|
1400887518 |
|
9780691058368 |
|
0691058369 |
|
9780691608778 |
|
0691608776 |
|
9780691628844 |
|
069162884X |
|
