Author: Sir Norman LockyerPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 25
Book Description
Progress in astronomy during the nineteenth century
Author: Sir Norman LockyerPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 25
Book Description
A Popular History of Astronomy
Author: Agnes M. ClerkePublisher: Forgotten Books
ISBN: 9780266171461
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 528
Book Description
Excerpt from A Popular History of Astronomy: During the Nineteenth Century The progress of astronomy during the last hundred years has been rapid and extraordinary. In its distinctive features, moreover, the nature of that progress has been such as to lend itself with facility to untechnical treatment. To this circumstance the present volume owes its origin. It embodies an attempt to enable the ordinary reader to follow, with intelligent interest, the course of modern astronomical inquiries, and to realize (so far as it can at present be realized) the full effect of the comprehensive change in the whole aspect, purposes, and methods of celestial science introduced by the momentous discovery of spectrum analysis. Since Professor Grant's invaluable work on the History of Physical Astronomy was published, a third of a century has elapsed. During the interval a so-called new astronomy has grown up by the side of the old. One effect of its advent has been to render the science of the heavenly bodies more popular, both in its needs and in its nature, than formerly. More popular in its needs, since its progress now primarily depends upon the interest in, and consequent efforts towards its advancement of the general public; more popular in its nature, because the kind of knowledge it now chiefly tends to accumulate is more easily intelligible - less remote from ordinary experience - than that evolved by the aid of the calculus from materials collected by the use of the transit-instrument and chrono graph. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century
Author: Agnes Mary ClerkePublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 534
Book Description
A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century Fourth Edition
Author: Agnes Mary ClerkePublisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781547165032
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 774
Book Description
INTRODUCTION We can distinguish three kinds of astronomy, each with a different origin and history, but all mutually dependent, and composing, in their fundamental unity, one science. First in order of time came the art of observing the returns, and measuring the places, of the heavenly bodies. This was the sole astronomy of the Chinese and Chaldeans; but to it the vigorous Greek mind added a highly complex geometrical plan of their movements, for which Copernicus substituted a more harmonious system, without as yet any idea of a compelling cause. The planets revolved in circles because it was their nature to do so, just as laudanum sets to sleep because it possesses a virtus dormitiva. This first and oldest branch is known as "observational," or "practical astronomy." Its business is to note facts as accurately as possible; and it is essentially unconcerned with schemes for connecting those facts in a manner satisfactory to the reason. The second kind of astronomy was founded by Newton. Its nature is best indicated by the term "gravitational"; but it is also called "theoretical astronomy." It is based on the idea of cause; and the whole of its elaborate structure is reared according to the dictates of a single law, simple in itself, but the tangled web of whose consequences can be unravelled only by the subtle agency of an elaborate calculus. The third and last division of celestial science may properly be termed "physical and descriptive astronomy." It seeks to know what the heavenly bodies are in themselves, leaving the How? and the Wherefore? of their movements to be otherwise answered. Now, such inquiries became possible only through the invention of the telescope, so that Galileo was, in point of fact, their originator. But Herschel first gave them a prominence which the whole progress of science during the nineteenth century served to confirm and render more exclusive. Inquisitions begun with the telescope have been extended and made effective in unhoped-for directions by the aid of the spectroscope and photographic camera; and a large part of our attention in the present volume will be occupied with the brilliant results thus achieved. The unexpected development of this new physical-celestial science is the leading fact in recent astronomical history. It was out of the regular course of events. In the degree in which it has actually occurred it could certainly not have been foreseen. It was a seizing of the prize by a competitor who had hardly been thought qualified to enter the lists. Orthodox astronomers of the old school looked with a certain contempt upon observers who spent their nights in scrutinising the faces of the moon and planets rather than in timing their transits, or devoted daylight energies, not to reductions and computations, but to counting and measuring spots on the sun. They were regarded as irregular practitioners, to be tolerated perhaps, but certainly not encouraged. The advance of astronomy in the eighteenth century ran in general an even and logical course....
Progress in Astronomy During the 19th Century
Author: Norman LockyerProgress in Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century, by Sir Norman Lockyer...
Author: Joseph Norman LockyerA Popular History of Astronomy
Author: Agnes M. ClerkePublisher: Forgotten Books
ISBN: 9781440053115
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 610
Book Description
Excerpt from A Popular History of Astronomy: During the Nineteenth Century In preparing the Second Edition, much advantage has been derived from criticisms upon the first, some through the press, others most gratefully received by the author from persons of eminence and authority in science. Omissions have been supplied, errors have been corrected, and pains taken to render the work in every way more worthy of the cordial reception granted to it on its first appearance. Astronomical research has, in the short interval, made such rapid progress as to demand the addition of a considerable amount of new matter to the later Chapters, their growth illustrating, however imperfectly, the vitality of the science. The Index has also been enlarged, and a Chronological Table added for convenience of reference. By the great kindness of Mr. Common and the MM. Henry, to whom the author tenders her best acknowledgments for their courteous assistance, some striking specimens of celestial photography are presented in the form of a Frontispiece and Vignette. Beyond any mere ornamental effect, these beautiful autograph pictures have a scientific value and significance which time will but enhance. The process used in their reproduction is that of the Messrs. Woodbury. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
A popular history of astronomy during the nineteenth century
Author: Agnes Mary ClerkePublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 534
Book Description
A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century
Author: Agnes Mary ClerkePublisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108014321
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 490
Book Description
This classic example of Victorian popular scientific literature is key to understanding the place of astronomy in nineteenth-century society.
History of Physical Astronomy from the Earliest Ages to the Middle of the Nineteenth Century ...
Author: Robert GrantPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 670
Book Description