Astronomy and History Selected Essays

Astronomy and History Selected Essays PDF Author: O. Neugebauer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461255597
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 522

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Book Description
The collection of papers assembled here on a variety of topics in ancient and medieval astronomy was originally suggested by Noel Swerdlow of the University of Chicago. He was also instrumental in making a selection* which would, in general, be on the same level as my book The Exact Sciences in Antiquity. It may also provide a general background for my more technical History of Ancient Mathematical Astronomy and for my edition of Astronomi cal Cuneiform Texts. Several of these republished articles were written because I wanted to put to rest well-entrenched historical myths which could not withstand close scrutiny of the sources. Examples are the supposed astronomical origin of the Egyptian calendar (see [9]), the discovery of precession by the Babylonians [16], and the "simplification" of the Ptolemaic system in Copernicus' De Revolutionibus [40]. In all of my work I have striven to present as accurately as I could what the original sources reveal (which is often very different from the received view). Thus, in [32] discussion of the technical terminology illuminates the meaning of an ancient passage which has been frequently misused to support modern theories about ancient heliocentrism; in [33] an almost isolated instance reveals how Greek world-maps really looked; and in [43] the Alexandrian Easter computus, held in awe by many historians, is shown from Ethiopic sources to be based on very simple procedures.

Astronomy and History Selected Essays

Astronomy and History Selected Essays PDF Author: O. Neugebauer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461255597
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 522

Get Book Here

Book Description
The collection of papers assembled here on a variety of topics in ancient and medieval astronomy was originally suggested by Noel Swerdlow of the University of Chicago. He was also instrumental in making a selection* which would, in general, be on the same level as my book The Exact Sciences in Antiquity. It may also provide a general background for my more technical History of Ancient Mathematical Astronomy and for my edition of Astronomi cal Cuneiform Texts. Several of these republished articles were written because I wanted to put to rest well-entrenched historical myths which could not withstand close scrutiny of the sources. Examples are the supposed astronomical origin of the Egyptian calendar (see [9]), the discovery of precession by the Babylonians [16], and the "simplification" of the Ptolemaic system in Copernicus' De Revolutionibus [40]. In all of my work I have striven to present as accurately as I could what the original sources reveal (which is often very different from the received view). Thus, in [32] discussion of the technical terminology illuminates the meaning of an ancient passage which has been frequently misused to support modern theories about ancient heliocentrism; in [33] an almost isolated instance reveals how Greek world-maps really looked; and in [43] the Alexandrian Easter computus, held in awe by many historians, is shown from Ethiopic sources to be based on very simple procedures.

Space and Time

Space and Time PDF Author: David C. Wright, Jr.,
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786456345
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Essays in this work examine treatments of history in science fiction and fantasy television programs from a variety of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. Some essays approach science fiction and fantasy television as primary evidence, demonstrating how such programs consciously or unconsciously elucidate persistent concerns and enduring ideals of a past era and place. Other essays study television as secondary evidence, investigating how popular media construct and communicate narratives about past events.

Essays on Medieval Computational Astronomy

Essays on Medieval Computational Astronomy PDF Author: José Chabás Bergón
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004281754
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 421

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Book Description
During the Middle Ages and early modern times tables were a most successful and economical way to present mathematical procedures and astronomical models and to facilitate computations. Before the sixteenth century astronomical models introduced by Ptolemy in Antiquity were rarely challenged, and innovation consisted in elaborating new methods for calculating planetary positions and other celestial phenomena. Essays on Medieval Computational Astronomy includes twelve articles that focus on astronomical tables, offering many examples where the meaning and purpose of such tables has been determined by careful analysis. In evaluating the work of medieval scholars we are mindful of the importance of applying criteria consistent with their own time, which may be different from those appropriate for other periods.

Essays in Astronomy

Essays in Astronomy PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 600

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Book Description


Essays on Astronomy

Essays on Astronomy PDF Author: Richard Anthony Proctor
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Astronomy
Languages : en
Pages : 456

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Book Description
A gathering of essays from various scientific journals by the noted British astronomer, Richard A. Proctor (1837-88). Proctor was the author of more than 40 books on the subject and is credited with popularizing astronomy in the 19th century. He was the first to suggest that lunar craters were the result of meteor impacts and not volcanic activity and won recogition for his 1867 map of the surface of Mars showing continents, seas, bays and straits. This book contains essays on subjects including: Sir John Herschel; the planet Mars; Saturn's rings; meteors and shooting stars; the zodiacal light; the solar corona; the sun's journey through space; distribution of the nebulae; a new theory of the Milky Way; the diurnal rotation of Mars; the proper motion of the Sun; the transit of Venus in 1874 and many other subjects. The illustrations include a handsome frontis lithograph of Saturn and its rings and there is also a folding plan of the orbits of Earth and Mars and 5 folding charts showing various stages of the transit of Venus in 1874. There are 3 full-page polar and equatorial maps on black paper showing distribution of Nebulae.

The Stars in Their Courses

The Stars in Their Courses PDF Author: Isaac Asimov
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description


Essays on Astronomical History and Heritage

Essays on Astronomical History and Heritage PDF Author: Steven Gullberg
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031294939
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 722

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Book Description
This multidisciplinary work celebrates Wayne Orchiston's career and accomplishments in historical and cultural astronomy on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Over thirty of the world’s leading scholars in astronomy, astrophysics, astronomical history, and cultural astronomy have come together to honor Wayne across a wide range of research topics. These themes include: • Astronomy and Society • Emergence of Astrophysics • History of Radio Astronomy • Solar System • Observatories and Instrumentation • Ethnoastronomy and Archeoastronomy This exceptional collection of essays presents an overview of Wayne’s prolific contributions to the field, along with detailed accounts of the book’s diverse themes. It is a valuable and insightful volume for both researchers and others interested in the fields of historical astronomy and cultural astronomy.

Essays on Astronomy; a Series of Papers on Planets and Meteors. Preceded by a Sketch of the Life and Work of Sir J. Herschel ... With ... Plates, Etc

Essays on Astronomy; a Series of Papers on Planets and Meteors. Preceded by a Sketch of the Life and Work of Sir J. Herschel ... With ... Plates, Etc PDF Author: Richard Anthony PROCTOR
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 450

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Book Description


Astronomy Across Cultures

Astronomy Across Cultures PDF Author: Helaine Selin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401141797
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 678

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Book Description
Astronomy Across Cultures: A History of Non-Western Astronomy consists of essays dealing with the astronomical knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Polynesian, Egyptian and Tibetan astronomy, among others, the book includes essays on Sky Tales and Why We Tell Them and Astronomy and Prehistory, and Astronomy and Astrology. The essays address the connections between science and culture and relate astronomical practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay is well illustrated and contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both the history of science and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups.

Between Inner Space and Outer Space

Between Inner Space and Outer Space PDF Author: John D. Barrow
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
An invigorating tour of topics that brings together dozens of essays that offer a sweeping account of the author's explorations about science, philosophy, and religion. 34 line illustrations.