The General History of Astronomy: Volume 2, Planetary Astronomy from the Renaissance to the Rise of Astrophysics

Description

Part B of Planetary Astronomy from the Renaissance to the Rise of Astrophysics is the sequel to Part A and continues the history of celestial mechanics and observational discovery through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Twelve different authors have contributed their expertise in some eighteen chapters, each of them intended to be accessible to the interested layman. An initial section deals with stages in the reception of Newton's inverse square law as exact. In the remainder of the book a large place is given to the development of the mathematical theory of celestial mechanics from Clairaut and Euler to LeVerrier, Newcomb, Hill and Poincare - a topic rarely treated, at once synoptically and in some detail. Lists of further reading provide entree to the literature of these several topics.

Review of the hardback: '... this is a very comprehensive and high quality work on the history of astronomy ... This series will be a very interesting collection for everybody, scientist, student and amateur, who is interested in the general history of astronomy.' Reviews of Astronomical Tools Review of the hardback: 'This book illustrates perfectly the skill of the modern astronomical historian. The list of editors and authors reads like a who's who in the subject and the 17 essays provide an excellent secondary source.' Carole Stott, New Scientist Review of the hardback: '... when read as an historical introduction to the study of the subject this book could provide the background necessary to fully understand advanced and modern celestial mechanics.' Irish Astronomical Journal Review of the hardback: '... all of the chapters are of a high scholarly standard and one feels that the authors have done their best to make their material accessible without too much recourse to mathematics, which is no mean achievement when writing a history of celestial mechanics.' Allan Chapman, Endeavour Review of the hardback: 'This is a scholarly and well-produced book.' Alan Chapman, Webb Society Reviews