A comet of the enlightenment
Subtitle: Anders Johan Lexell's life and discoveries
By: Johan C.-E. Stén
Series: Vita mathematica -- 17; Vita mathematica -- 17.
Publisher: Birkhäuser
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Cham; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 300
ISBN-13: 9783319006178; 9783319006185
Copyright date: 2014
Subjects: Astronomers; Biography; Scientists
Description: The Finnish mathematician and astronomer Anders Johan Lexell (1740-1784) was a long-time close collaborator as well as the academic successor of Leonhard Euler at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg. Lexell was initially invited by Euler from his native town of Abo (Turku) in Finland to Saint Petersburg to assist in the mathematical processing of the astronomical data of the forthcoming transit of Venus of 1769. A few years later he became an ordinary member of the Academy. This is the first-ever full-length biography devoted to Lexell and his prolific scientific output. His rich correspondence especially from his grand tour to Germany, France and England reveals him as a lucid observer of the intellectual landscape of enlightened Europe. In the skies, a comet, a minor planet and a crater on the Moon named after Lexell also perpetuate his memory. --
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-287) and index.
Table of contents: title: 1 Setting the scene; title: 2 The humble beginnings; title: 3 New prospects in Saint Petersburg; title: 4 Formation of an Academician; title: 5 Professor of astronomy; title: 6 Professional relations and correspondence; title: 7 Academic events in Saint Petersburg; title: 8 Lexell's work in mathematics; title: 9 Academic Journey 1780-1781; title: 10 Return to an Academy in crisis; title: 12 A sketch of Lexell{u2019}s personality; title: 13 Conclusion; title: 14 Appendices.