Revolutionaries of the Cosmos [electronic resource] : The Astro-Physicists
Glass, Ian.
Oxford : Oxford University Press,
c2006.
This book contains short biographies of Galileo, Newton, Herschel, Huggins, Hale, Eddington, Shapley and Hubble - eight astronomers who broke with traditions and defined the cosmos as we know it now.
Description based upon print version of record.
Contents; 1 Introduction: Talent and opportunity; 1.1 The astro-physicists; 1.2 Setting the scene; 1.3 The talented individual; 1.4 Motivation; 1.5 The need for support; 1.6 Lifetimes in science; References; 2 Galileo: Seeing and believing; 2.1 Early years; 2.2 Studies in Pisa; 2.3 Florence and Siena; 2.4 Professor at Pisa 1589-1592; 2.5 Padua 1592-1610; 2.6 The telescope; 2.7 The nature of the moon; 2.8 Return to Florence; 2.9 Mature scientist; 2.10 Sunspots; 2.11 Beginnings of clerical opposition; 2.12 Science and scripture; 2.13 Towards the Ptolemaic-Copernican 'Dialogue'; 2.14 Publication
2.15 Private life2.16 Trial-A 'vehement suspicion of heresy'; 2.17 Aftermath of the trial; 2.18 Discourses: 'Two New Sciences'; 2.19 Last years; References; 3 Isaac Newton: Rationalising the universe; 3.1 Trinity College, Cambridge; 3.2 Intellectual awakening; 3.3 Discoveries during the plague years; 3.4 Beginnings of recognition; 3.5 Lucasian Professor; 3.6 The first reflecting telescope; 3.7 'The oddest, if not the most considerable, detection'; 3.8 Leibniz and the early papers of Newton; 3.9 Newton as heretic; 3.10 Principia; 3.11 Fame; 3.12 University politician; 3.13 Change of character
3.14 Fatio3.15 Nervous breakdown; 3.16 Opticks; 3.17 Warden of the Mint; 3.18 President of the Royal Society; 3.19 Relations with Flamsteed; 3.20 Knighthood; 3.21 Dispute with Leibniz; 3.22 Old age; References; 4 William Herschel: Surveying the heavens; 4.1 The Herschel family; 4.2 Hanover years; 4.3 Wandering musician; 4.4 Life in Bath; 4.5 Crazy about telescopes; 4.6 Recognition as an astronomer; 4.7 Sweeping the sky; 4.8 Discovery of Uranus; 4.9 King George III; 4.10 Motion of the Sun; 4.11 Construction of the Heavens; 4.12 Minor discoveries; 4.13 Datchet, Windsor and the 40-ft telescope
4.14 Telescope business4.15 Marriage; 4.16 Social life; 4.17 Later discoveries and interests; 4.18 Doubtful speculations; 4.19 Asteroids and the Celestial Police; 4.20 John Frederick William Herschel; 4.21 Last years of Caroline; References; 5 William Huggins: Celestial chemical analysis; 5.1 Early years; 5.2 Shopkeeper; 5.3 Independence; 5.4 'A spring of water in a dry and thirsty land'; 5.5 The 'Riddle of the Nebulae'; 5.6 Nova T CrB; 5.7 Comets; 5.8 Frustrating interlude; 5.9 Radial motion of the stars; 5.10 New facilities; 5.11 Witness at a séance and other activities
5.12 An able and enthusiastic assistant5.13 A Victorian household; 5.14 Advent of photographic spectra; 5.15 Further spectroscopic forays; 5.16 The mystery of 'Nebulium'; 5.17 Eminent Victorian; 5.18 Margaret Huggins and education; 5.19 A place of pilgrimage; 5.20 Last years of William . . .; 5.21 . . . and of Margaret; References; 6 George Ellery Hale: Providing the tools; 6.1 MIT student; 6.2 Meeting with Rowland; 6.3 Invention of the spectroheliograph; 6.4 Marriage and honeymoon; 6.5 The Kenwood Observatory; 6.6 Discoveries at Kenwood; 6.7 University of Chicago
6.8 Yerkes-the largest refracting telescope ever made
This book contains short biographies of Galileo, Newton, Herschel, Huggins, Hale, Eddington, Shapley and Hubble - eight astronomers who broke with traditions and defined the cosmos as we know it now.
Description based on print version record.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Astronomy - General
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Physical Sciences & Mathematics