Encyclopedia of the History of Astronomy and Astrophysics

This Encyclopedia offers a comprehensive guide to the history of astronomy and astrophysics from ancient times to the present day.

David Leverington (Author)

9780521899949, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 20 May 2013

530 pages, 81 b/w illus. 18 tables
28.7 x 22.2 x 3 cm, 2 kg

'… this is something of a tour de force by the author, which should be welcomed on the shelves of institutional libraries and all those interested in our science alike.' David Stickland, The Observatory

This comprehensive Encyclopedia covers the full history of astronomy from its ancient origins in Africa, South America, the Middle East and China to the latest developments in astrophysics and space-based research. The initial articles, which are largely organised chronologically, are followed by numerous thematic historical articles on the constituents of the Solar System, types of stars, stellar evolution, active galaxies, cosmology and much more. These are followed by articles on tools and techniques, from the history of spectroscopy to adaptive optics. The last part of the Encyclopedia is devoted to the history of ground- and space-based telescopes and observatories, covering the full spectral range from gamma-rays through the optical waveband to radio waves. Informative and accessibly written, each article is followed by an extensive bibliography to facilitate further research, whilst consistent coverage from ancient times to the present makes this an ideal resource for scholars, students and amateur astronomers alike.

Preface
Part I. General Astronomy: 1. Ancient (pre-telescopy) astronomy
2. Period overviews
3. International Astronomical Union
Part II. The Solar System: 4. Overview – the Solar System
5. Sun, Earth, and Moon
6. Inner Solar System
7. Giant planets
8. Smaller objects
9. Exoplanets
Part III. Stars: 10. Stars considered individually
11. Stars considered as a group
12. Types of stars
Part IV. Galaxies and Cosmology: 13. Milky Way
14. Other galaxies and cosmology
Part V. General Astronomical Tools and Techniques (After 1600)
Part VI. Optical Telescopes and Observatories: 15. Overview – optical telescopes and observatories
16. Optical observatories
Part VII. Radio Telescopes, Observatories and Radar: 17. Overview – radio telescopes and observatories
18. Early radio astronomy and observatories
19. Later radio observatories
Part VIII. Other Ground-Based Observatories
Part IX. Solar System Exploration Spacecraft: 20. Overview – Solar System exploration spacecraft
21. Individual Solar System spacecraft
Part X. Selected Observatory Spacecraft: 22. Overview – spacecraft observatories
23. Individual spacecraft observatories
Name index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG], History of science [PDX], Science: general issues [PD], Mathematics & science [P]