Focusing on the groundbreaking contributions of William and Caroline Herschel in 18th-century astronomy, this book highlights William's role as the first observational cosmologist. It details his pioneering efforts to explore the sidereal universe beyond our solar system, showcasing the innovative methodologies and discoveries that shaped modern astronomy. Michael Hoskin's structured narrative emphasizes the significance of their work and its lasting impact on the field.
Tells the story of William Herschel, the brilliant, fiercely ambitious, emotionally complex musician and composer who became court astronomer to Britain's King George III, and of William's sister, Caroline, who assisted him in his observations of the night sky and became an accomplished astronomer in her own right.
An introduction to the history of Western astronomy from prehistoric times to the origins of astrophysics in the mid nineteenth century. Emphasis is given to such topics as the merging of Babylonian and Greek astronomy in later Antiquity, Kepler's conversion of astronomy into a branch of dynamics, and the first explorations of the universe of stars. schovat popis