Cosmic Discovery
The Search, Scope, and Heritage of Astronomy
Published on 13. March 2019
978-1-108-75021-9 (ISBN)
Description
Martin Harwit's influential book, Cosmic Discovery, is rereleased after more than thirty-five years, with a new preface written by the author. The work chronicles the astronomical discoveries up to the late twentieth century and draws conclusions that major discoveries have often been unexpected, unrelated to prevailing astronomical theories and made by outsiders from other fields. One trend alone seems to prevail: major discoveries follow major technological innovations in observational instruments. The author also examines discovery in terms of its political, financial, and sociological contexts, including the role of industry and the military in enabling new technologies, and methods of funding. The challenges encountered by astronomy in the 1980s are remarkably similar to those astronomers face today. Difficulties persist in controlling recurrent cost overruns on planned missions, and in confronting mounting costs in developing observatories for detecting gravitational waves, high-energy cosmic rays, and particles that might explain dark matter.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises; 33 Halftones, unspecified; 45 Line drawings, unspecified
File size
10,06 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-108-75021-9 (9781108750219)
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
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/2019
Cambridge University Press
€51.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Content
Preface; 1. The search; 2. Discoveries; 3. Observation; 4. Detection, recognition, and classification of phenomena; 5. The fringes of legitimacy: the need for enlightened planning; Appendices; References; Glossary; Index.
