Babylon to Voyager and Beyond
Babylon to Voyager and Beyond
Babylon to Voyager and Beyond covers planetary research from the time of the Babylonians and Ancient Greeks through those of Kepler, Galileo and Newton to the modern era of space exploration. It outlines the key observational discoveries and theoretical developments in their historical context, covering not only the numerous successes but also the main failures. Planetary astronomy has come a long way since the Babylonians used their extensive numerical skills to predict the positions of the moon and planets. That progress is the story of this book, ending, as it does, with the considerable discoveries of the space age, and the discoveries of planets around other stars. This account will appeal to both amateur and professional astronomers, as well as those with an interest in the history of science.
- Covers planetary research from ancient times up until more recent years
- A scholarly account of progress in understanding our solar system and its constituent bodies
- Includes extensive footnotes and glossary
Reviews & endorsements
'David Leverington has written a comprehensive, readable, and accessible history of planetary astronomy which will engross astronomers, historians of science and anyone with an interest in science. I recommend it.' The Observatory
'… I shall be using this book extensively as a definitive text and recommending it wholeheartedly to my students.' Astronomy Now
'As a reference on the history of planetary science, describing how today's scientific knowledge was attained, this book is very good.' Journal of the British Astronomical Association
'Leverington has provided us with a book containing a vast amount of detail charting the progression of humanity's gradual discovery and understanding of the planetary bodies within our solar system.' Astronomy and Space
Product details
No date availablePaperback
9780521004619
572 pages
244 × 165 × 30 mm
0.899kg
111 b/w illus. 9 tables
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- 1. The ancients
- 2. Copernicus and the new cosmology
- 3. Kepler and Galileo - the fall of epicycles and the start of telescopic astronomy
- 4. The mid and late seventeenth century
- 5. Consolidation
- 6. The solar system expands
- 7. The inner solar system in the nineteenth century
- 8. The outer solar system in the nineteenth century
- 9. Quiet interlude - the twentieth century prior to the space age
- 10. The space age - terrestrial planets
- 11. The space age - the outer planets
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Units
- Name index
- Subject index.
