The subject of this book is the Western astronomical tradition from ancient Babylonia to the European Renaissance, with special emphasis on the Greek period. Throughout the book two questions constantly recur: what evidence permits us to reconstruct the astronomy of the ancient past? How was astronony actually practised? The book is meticulously documented and makes full use of primary sources as well as modern historical scholarship. It is richly illustrated and is unusual for its attention to the material culture of ancient astronomy. The most striking aspect of the book is its attention to astronomical practice.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about the fascinating struggle to bring sense to the celestial sphere and the complicated motions of the planets...If you would like to know more about the technical side of ancient astronomy, this book is for you, and a personal copy would be well worth having. Certainly every university library should have a copy on its shelves. * Mike Dworetsky, Physics World, July 1999 *
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Illustrationen
numerous halftones and line figures
Maße
Höhe: 298 mm
Breite: 208 mm
Dicke: 32 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-19-509539-5 (9780195095395)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Autor*in
Professor of PhysicsProfessor of Physics, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, USA
Preface ; 1. The Birth of Astronomy ; 2. The Celestial Spheres ; 3. Some Applications of Spherics ; 5. Solar Theory and Time Reckoning ; 6. The Fixed Stars ; 7. Planetary Theory ; Bibliography ; Appendix: Patterns for Models
