MARC Record from Library of Congress

LEADER: 04102nam a22003738a 4500
001 2011036932
003 DLC
005 20111007135513.0
008 110831s2012 enk b 001 0beng
010 $a 2011036932
020 $a9781107018389 (hardback)
040 $aDLC$cDLC
042 $apcc
043 $ae-uk---
050 00 $aQB36.H6$bH719 2012
082 00 $a520.92$aB$223
084 $aSCI034000$2bisacsh
100 1 $aHoskin, Michael A.
245 14 $aThe construction of the heavens :$bthe cosmology of William Herschel /$cMichael Hoskin ; with astrophysical notes by David Dewirst, Wolfgang Steinicke.
260 $aCambridge ;$aNew York :$bCambridge University Press,$c2012.
263 $a1202
300 $ap. cm.
520 $a"The astronomical observations of William Herschel (1738-1822) made him question the accepted model of the clockwork universe. This volume explains the development of Herschel's thoughts on what he called 'the construction of the heavens' and reprints his principal papers on this subject. The preliminary chapters provide an introduction to Herschel, including his unusual path to astronomy, the discovery of Uranus and his work on the evolution of stellar clusters, which eventually led him to challenge the unchanging Newtonian universe. The second half of the text comprises eight of Herschel's key papers on what we today would call cosmology, representing his progress between 1783 and 1814, fully annotated with historical notes and modern astrophysical explanations. Ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the history of science and in astronomy, this volume explains Herschel's pivotal role in the transformation from the clockwork universe to the 'biological' universe of modern astronomy"--$cProvided by publisher.
520 $a"William Herschel (1738-1822) was a musician and composer for the first half of his life, and astronomer to the King of Britain for the second half. Astronomers of the time might distinguish themselves either as makers of telescopes, or as observers, or as theoreticians. Herschel distinguished himself in all three. In November 1778, while a musician in the English spa resort of Bath, Herschel as an amateur observer ground and polished for his 7-ft reflector a mirror that was simply the finest anywhere; and using it he discovered the planet we know as Uranus. This won him the patronage of the King and with it the opportunity to give up music and dedicate himself to astronomy. With funding from the King he then built himself the biggest reflector ever seen, and he conducted a brisk trade in telescopes, the crowned heads of Europe competing to be allowed to buy a Herschel reflector"--$cProvided by publisher.
504 $aIncludes bibliographical references and index.
505 8 $aMachine generated contents note: 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.
600 10 $aHerschel, William,$cSir,$d1738-1822.
650 0 $aAstronomers$zGreat Britain$vBiography.
650 0 $aAstronomy$xHistory.
650 0 $aCosmology$xHistory.
650 7 $aSCIENCE / History.$2bisacsh
700 1 $aDewirst, David.
700 1 $aSteinicke, Wolfgang.
856 42 $3Cover image$uhttp://assets.cambridge.org/97811070/18389/cover/9781107018389.jpg