
Flamsteed's Stars
New Perspectives on the Life and Work of the First Astronomer Royal, 1646-1719
Frances Willmoth(Editor)
Boydell Press
Published on 18. December 1997
Book
Hardback
287 pages
978-0-85115-706-1 (ISBN)
Description
Papers examining different aspects of John Flamsteed's career as the first `astronomer royal'.
John Flamsteed played a leading role in English astronomy for nearly half a century, from his appointment as `astronomical observator' to Charles II and first director of the new Royal Observatory at Greenwich, in 1675, through five successive reigns until his death on the last day of 1719. The Observatory's innovative instruments enabled him to plot the movements of the heavenly bodies with unprecedented accuracy, but he was also in correspondence with other astronomers, participating in the controversies of the day and caught up in a lengthy rivalry with Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley - reflected in the complex publishing history of the Historia Coelestis, detailed here. This book confirms Flamsteed's achievements as astronomer, mathematician, instrument maker and writer on optics, and also discusses more personal issues such as his relations with the Royal Society, his pursuit of professional recognition, and the friction between him and his eventual successor Halley.
FRANCES WILLMOTH gained her Ph.D. for her biography of Flamsteed's patron, Sir Jonas Moore. Contributors: JIM BENNETT, FRANCES WILLMOTH, MORDECHAI FEINGOLD,ADRIAN JOHNS, HESTER HIGTON, ROB ILIFFE, IAN G. STEWART, OWEN GINGERICH, ALAN COOK, WILLIAM J. ASHWORTH, ADAM PERKINS
John Flamsteed played a leading role in English astronomy for nearly half a century, from his appointment as `astronomical observator' to Charles II and first director of the new Royal Observatory at Greenwich, in 1675, through five successive reigns until his death on the last day of 1719. The Observatory's innovative instruments enabled him to plot the movements of the heavenly bodies with unprecedented accuracy, but he was also in correspondence with other astronomers, participating in the controversies of the day and caught up in a lengthy rivalry with Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley - reflected in the complex publishing history of the Historia Coelestis, detailed here. This book confirms Flamsteed's achievements as astronomer, mathematician, instrument maker and writer on optics, and also discusses more personal issues such as his relations with the Royal Society, his pursuit of professional recognition, and the friction between him and his eventual successor Halley.
FRANCES WILLMOTH gained her Ph.D. for her biography of Flamsteed's patron, Sir Jonas Moore. Contributors: JIM BENNETT, FRANCES WILLMOTH, MORDECHAI FEINGOLD,ADRIAN JOHNS, HESTER HIGTON, ROB ILIFFE, IAN G. STEWART, OWEN GINGERICH, ALAN COOK, WILLIAM J. ASHWORTH, ADAM PERKINS
Reviews / Votes
An informed historical treatment of his career... Flamsteed is placed in his contemporary context, intellectual and institutional, social and instrumental... Willmoth puts us further in her debt by providing a handlist of Flamsteed papers. BULLETIN OF THE SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT SOCIETY A valuable contribution to Flamsteed scholarship. BRITISH JNL FOR THE HIST OF SCIENCE Ce volume devrait recevoir un excellent accueuil de la part des historiens de l'astronomie moderne et des chercheurs en histoire des sciences en general. ARCHIVES INTERNATIONALES D'HISTOIRE DES SCIENCES Excellent and readable volume of essays. * ANNALS OF SCIENCE *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodbridge
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Boydell & Brewer Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
13 b/w, 2 line illus.
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
1 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-85115-706-1 (9780851157061)
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 Classification
Persons
Editor
Contributions
Contributor
Contributor
Contributor
Content
- A.D.S. Johns -
Introduction: the King's `Astronomical Observator' -
Flamsteed's Career in Astronomy: Nobility, Morality, Public Utility - Jim Bennett
Astronomy and Strife: John Flamsteed and the Royal Society - Mordechai Feingold
Models for the Practice of Astronomy: Flamsteed, Horrocks and Tycho - Frances Willmoth
Flamsteed's Optics and the Identity if the Astronomical Observer - Adrian D Johns
Equipping an observatory: Flamsteed and Molyneux discuss an astronomical quadrant - Hester Higton
Mathematical Characters: Flamsteed and Christ's Hospital Royal Mathematical School - Robert C Iliffe
`Professor' John Flamsteed - Ian G. Stewart
Edmond Halley and John Flamsteed at the Royal Observatory - Alan Cook
A copy of Flamsteed's Historia Coelestis (1712) - Owen Gingerich
Labour harder than thrashing: John Flamsteed Property and Intellectual Labour in Nineteenth Century England - William J. Ashworth
The Flamsteed Papers in the Archives of the Royal Greenwich Observatory - Adam Perkins
A Summary Catalogue of Flamsteed's Papers in the Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives - Frances Willmoth
Introduction: the King's `Astronomical Observator' -
Flamsteed's Career in Astronomy: Nobility, Morality, Public Utility - Jim Bennett
Astronomy and Strife: John Flamsteed and the Royal Society - Mordechai Feingold
Models for the Practice of Astronomy: Flamsteed, Horrocks and Tycho - Frances Willmoth
Flamsteed's Optics and the Identity if the Astronomical Observer - Adrian D Johns
Equipping an observatory: Flamsteed and Molyneux discuss an astronomical quadrant - Hester Higton
Mathematical Characters: Flamsteed and Christ's Hospital Royal Mathematical School - Robert C Iliffe
`Professor' John Flamsteed - Ian G. Stewart
Edmond Halley and John Flamsteed at the Royal Observatory - Alan Cook
A copy of Flamsteed's Historia Coelestis (1712) - Owen Gingerich
Labour harder than thrashing: John Flamsteed Property and Intellectual Labour in Nineteenth Century England - William J. Ashworth
The Flamsteed Papers in the Archives of the Royal Greenwich Observatory - Adam Perkins
A Summary Catalogue of Flamsteed's Papers in the Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives - Frances Willmoth