The Construction of the Heavens
William Herschel's Cosmology

A comprehensive study of William Herschel's pivotal discoveries, including an extensive biographical section, eight original papers and full notes.

Michael Hoskin (Author)

9781107018389, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 19 January 2012

214 pages, 30 b/w illus. 1 table
25.2 x 18 x 1.5 cm, 0.58 kg

'This highly recommended book stands alone as an outstanding academic summary of Herschel's most important cosmological achievements.' Astronomy Now

The astronomical observations of William Herschel (1738–1822) made him question the accepted model of the clockwork universe. This volume explains the development of Herschel's thoughts on what he called 'the construction of the heavens' and reprints his principal papers on this subject. The preliminary chapters provide an introduction to Herschel, including his unusual path to astronomy, the discovery of Uranus and his work on the evolution of stellar clusters, which eventually led him to challenge the unchanging Newtonian universe. The second half of the text comprises eight of Herschel's key papers on what we today would call cosmology, representing his progress between 1783 and 1814, fully annotated with historical notes and modern astrophysical explanations. Ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the history of science and in astronomy, this volume explains Herschel's pivotal role in the transformation from the clockwork universe to the 'biological' universe of modern astronomy.

Introduction
Part I. Herschel's Exploration of the Cosmos: 1. The making of an astronomer
2. Our neighbours among the stars
3. The riddle of the nebulae: true nebulosity?
4. The riddle of the nebulae: true nebulosity rejected
5. The riddle of the nebulae: true nebulosity confirmed
6. Retrospect: Herschel and the construction of the heavens
Part II. Herschel's Cosmological Papers in Philosophical Transactions: 7. 1783: 'On the proper motion of the sun and solar system'
8. 1784: 'Observations tending to investigate the construction of the heavens'
9. 1785: 'On the construction of the heavens'
10. 1789: 'Remarks on the construction of the heavens'
11. 1791: 'On nebulous stars'
12. 1802: 'Remarks on the construction of the heavens'
13. 1811: 'Observations relating to the construction of the heavens'
14. 1814: 'Observations relating to the sidereal part of the heavens'
Index.

Subject Areas: Physics [PH], Astronomy, space & time [PG], History of science [PDX], Impact of science & technology on society [PDR], Philosophy of science [PDA], Science: general issues [PD], Mathematics & science [P]