PDF-(READ)-Greek Astronomy (Dover Books on Astronomy)

Astronomy as a science began with the Ionian philosophers with whom Greek philosophy and mathematics also began While the Egyptians and Babylonians had accomplished much of astronomical worth it remained for the unrivalled speculative genius of the Greeks in particular their mathematical genius to lay the foundations of the true science of astronomy In this classic study a noted scholar discusses in lucid detail the specific advances made by the Greeks many of whose ideas anticipated the discoveries of modern astronomyPythagoras born at Samos about 572 BC was probably the first to hold that the earth is spherical in shape while his later followers anticipated Copernicus with the thenstartling hypothesis that the earth was not the center of the universe but a planet like the others Heraclides of Pontus c 388315 BC a pupil of Plato declared that the apparent daily rotation of the heavenly bodies is due not to a rotation of the heavenly sphere about an axis through the center of the earth but to the rotation of the earth itself around its own axis Secondly Heraclides discovered that Venus and Mercury revolve around the sun like satellites Perhaps the greatest astronomer of antiquity was Hipparchus who flourished between 161 and 126 BC He compiled a catalog of fixed stars to the number 850 or more made great improvements in the instruments used for astronomical observations and discovered the precession of the equinoxes among other accomplishments The astronomy of Hipparchus takes its definitive form in the Syntaxis commonly called the Almagest of Ptolemy written about AD 150 which held the field until the time of CopernicusThe extraordinary achievements of these and many more Greek theorists are given full coverage in this erudite account which blends exceptional clarity with a readable style to produce a work that is not only indispensable for astronomers and historians of science but easily accessible to scienceminded lay readers. Early Astronomy . Humans have been fascinated by the sky for all time.. Constellations have helped people navigate, tell stories, are the gods that look over humanity.. Constellations are groupings of stars that form images, much like seeing . This official NASA history chronicles the behind-the-scenes conflicts and cooperation during the Apollo expeditions. It shows how the space agency\'s scientists, who were primarily interested in the Moon itself, worked out their differences with the engineers, who were charged with the astronauts\' safe landing and return. The close collaboration between the scientists and engineers ensured the success of a program that remains a major achievement for both fields. The first half of the book concerns the preparations for the Moon landings, tracing the development of the Apollo science program from the earliest days. The second half documents the flights that followed Apollo 11, during which twelve astronauts explored the lunar surface and returned with samples for investigation. The author drew upon the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center\'s collection of more than 31,000 Apollo-related documents and conducted more than 300 interviews with program participants to assemble this definitive survey. Written by a trio of experts, this is the definitive reference on the Apollo spacecraft and lunar modules. It traces the design of the vehicles, their development, and their operation in space. More than 100 photographs and illustrations highlight the text, which begins with NASA\'s origins and concludes with the triumphant Apollo 11 moon mission. A towering figure in intellectual history and one of the fathers of modern astronomy, the great mathematician Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) is best known for his discovery of the three laws of planetary motion, which paved the way for a dynamic explanation of the heavenly phenomena. At a time when the Ptolemaic view still prevailed in official circles, Kepler undertook to prove the truth of the Copernican world view and through exceptional perseverance and force of intellect achieved that goal. His epochal intellectual feats are completely and thoroughly described in this splendid work, considered the definitive biography of Kepler. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, the author presents a fascinating and erudite picture of Kepler\'s scientific accomplishments, his public life (work with Tycho Brahe, the Danish astronomer mathematical appointments at Graz, Prague, and Linz pioneering work with calculus and optics, and more) and his personal life: childhood and youth, financial situation, his mother\'s trial as a witch, his own lifelong fear of religious persecution, his difficulties in choosing one of eleven possible young women as his second wife, and more, through his last years in Ulm and death in Regensburg.Until his death in 1956, Professor Max Caspar was the world\'s foremost Kepler scholar. He had spent over two-thirds of his life assembling, cataloging, describing, analyzing, and editing Kepler\'s works. To this biography he brought tremendous learning and passionate enthusiasm for his subject, creating an unsurpassed resource on the life and work of one of history\'s greatest scientific minds. Originally published in German and superbly translated into English by C. Doris Hellman, Kepler will fascinate scholars and general readers alike. “A carefully reasoned history of astronomy … clearly the work of a man who loved his subject.” — The Times (London) Literary Supplement.Few histories of astronomy offer the special human dimension of this book. For Professor Pannekoek (University of Amsterdam), the history of astronomy consists of the growth of man’s concept of his world. The study of the cosmos became an essential part of the history of human culture, an adventure of the mind.In this well-balanced account of that adventure, the author is at pains to relate the development of astronomy to the social and cultural background in which it is nurtured. Thus, the effect of changes in political conditions, the influence of geography, and the growth of industry and of communications methods are clearly and incisively described.Dr. Pannekoek begins with an unusually detailed account of astronomy in ancient times, including Babylonian sky-lore, Assyrian astrology, the Ptolemaic worldview, Hellenistic astronomy, the epicycle theory, and Arabian astronomy. The growth of astronomy after Copernicus constitutes the second part of the book, acquainting the reader with the epoch-making work of Kepler and Newton and the astonishing developments of celestial mechanics during the eighteenth century. Part III begins with Herschel, the gifted amateur whose observations opened up new horizons, and ends with Eddington’s pioneering studies of the internal constitutions of stars.Comprehensive, well-written and full of small, revealing details that attest to the scope and depth of the author’s learning, this splendid survey belongs in the library of every astronomer — or anyone interested in the grand mystery of the cosmos and man’s attempts to penetrate it. This official NASA history chronicles the behind-the-scenes conflicts and cooperation during the Apollo expeditions. It shows how the space agency\'s scientists, who were primarily interested in the Moon itself, worked out their differences with the engineers, who were charged with the astronauts\' safe landing and return. The close collaboration between the scientists and engineers ensured the success of a program that remains a major achievement for both fields. The first half of the book concerns the preparations for the Moon landings, tracing the development of the Apollo science program from the earliest days. The second half documents the flights that followed Apollo 11, during which twelve astronauts explored the lunar surface and returned with samples for investigation. The author drew upon the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center\'s collection of more than 31,000 Apollo-related documents and conducted more than 300 interviews with program participants to assemble this definitive survey. Comprehensive, authoritative coverage of interferometric techniques for radio astronomy In this Second Edition of Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy, three leading figures in the development of large imaging arrays, including very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), describe and explain the technology that provides images of the universe with an angular resolution as fine as 1/20,000 of an arcsecond. This comprehensive volume begins with a historical review followed by detailed coverage of the theory of interferometry and synthesis imaging, analysis of interferometer response, geometrical relationships, polarimetry, antennas, and arrays. Discussion of the receiving system continues with analysis of the response to signals and noise, analog design requirements, and digital signal processing. The authors detail special requirements of VLBI including atomic frequency standards, broadband recording systems, and antennas in orbit. Further major topics include: * Calibration of data and synthesis of images* Image enhancement using nonlinear algorithms* Techniques for astrometry and geodesy* Propagation in the neutral atmosphere and ionized media* Radio interference* Related techniques: intensity interferometry, moon occultations, antenna holography, and optical interferometry Interferometry and Synthesis in Radio Astronomy, Second Edition is comprehensive in that it provides an excellent overview of most radio astronomical instrumentation and techniques. In Stars Above, Earth Below, Tyler Nordgren examines a range of astronomical topics and makes the connection between them and the landscapes, processes, and cultures which can be seen and experienced within specific U.S. National Parks. For each park and topic the story unfolds in three steps: what does the reader see for him - or herself? What is the scientific cause or explanation of what is seen? And finally, what is the big picture about ourselves, our world, and our Universe? The author takes us the length and breadth of the U.S., from the coast of Maine to the Yellowstone volcano, from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the heights of the Rocky Mountains, exploring the natural links between the features of the parks and those of our Universe. It should be read by anyone even remotely interested in the long saga of the universe\'s profound and lasting influence on mankind’s development. — New ScientistA grand book. — Publishers WeeklyDr. Krupp teaches us once more to look up at the stars and marvel. — Ray BradburyThe intriguing world of archaeoastronomy — the study of ancient peoples\' observations of the skies and the impact of what they saw on their cultural evolution — is the focus of this eminently readable and authoritative survey. Author E. C. Krupp, an astronomer, is the director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California. He is one of the world\'s greatest experts on archaeoastronomy, and the author of numerous books including Beyond the Blue Horizon (1992) and In Search of Ancient Astronomies (1978). His interpretations of sky-watching customs from around the world range from everyday pursuits such as measuring time and calculating planting seasons to philosophical issues concerning the role of humanity within the larger context of the universe.Beginning with an explanation of how the sky works and how people have relied upon its guidance for centuries, Dr. Krupp explores ancient and prehistoric observatories, from sites in China and Babylonia to Scotland and Peru. He relates sky god mythology from many cultures, discusses astronomy\'s influence on funerary rites and other vigils and rituals, and profiles sacred places such as Stonehenge and the kivas of the American Southwest. An extraordinary interdisciplinary work of investigation and discovery, this book offers a compelling portrait of the ancient stargazers, their beliefs, and their customs. 208 illustrations. Bibliography. Index.This remarkable book, written by one of the greatest experts on archaeoastronomy is packed with valuable information. — Message to Eagle A book that has been used with great success by countless amateur astronomers, this volume presents complete and detailed instructions and numerous diagrams showing how to construct a do-it-yourself telescope. No complicated mathematics are involved, and no prior knowledge of optics or astronomy is needed to follow the text\'s step-by-step directions, which also offer instruction in the fundamentals of practical optics.Contents: 1. Story of the Telescope. 2. Materials and Equipment. 3. Mirror Grinding. 4. The Pitch Lap. 5. Polishing-Testing-Correcting. 6. The Paraboloid. 7. The Diagonal. 8. Tube Parts-Alignment-The Finder. 9. Eyepieces and Related Problems. 10. The Mounting. 11. Aluminizing and Cleaning. 12. Setting Circles-Equatorial Adjustment. 13. Optical Principles-Atmosphere-Magnitudes. 14. A Second Telescope. Appendixes. Index. Written by a trio of experts, this is the definitive reference on the Apollo spacecraft and lunar modules. It traces the design of the vehicles, their development, and their operation in space. More than 100 photographs and illustrations highlight the text, which begins with NASA\'s origins and concludes with the triumphant Apollo 11 moon mission. A masterpiece of historical insight and scientific accuracy, this is the definitive work on Greek astronomy and the Copernican Revolution. Beginning with the ancient Egyptians, it ranges from the Pythagoreans and Plato to medieval European and Islamic cosmologies, concluding with detailed surveys of the works of Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler. Written by a trio of experts, this is the definitive reference on the Apollo spacecraft and lunar modules. It traces the design of the vehicles, their development, and their operation in space. More than 100 photographs and illustrations highlight the text, which begins with NASA\'s origins and concludes with the triumphant Apollo 11 moon mission. Written by a trio of experts, this is the definitive reference on the Apollo spacecraft and lunar modules. It traces the design of the vehicles, their development, and their operation in space. More than 100 photographs and illustrations highlight the text, which begins with NASA\'s origins and concludes with the triumphant Apollo 11 moon mission.