Investigating the Origin of the Asteroids and Early Findings on Vesta

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The exploration of asteroids' origins is rooted in the discovery of Vesta in 1807, attributed to Wilhelm Olbers, who proposed that asteroids stemmed from a primordial planet's explosion. Cunningham delves into this theory through the works of Sir David Brewster, a key figure in asteroid literature. The book also investigates the connection between meteorites and asteroids, highlighting the interplay of Ernst Chladni's ideas, Romantic symbolism, and the concept of the music of the spheres.