Unravelling Starlight: William and Margaret Huggins and the Rise of the New Astronomy

ISBN-13: 9781316644171 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 402 str.

Barbara J. Becker

Opis

An engaging re-examination of William Huggins' life and career; it will appeal to anyone interested in the history of astronomy.

Recenzje

'Six years after the publication of the original hardcopy version of Unravelling Starlight … Cambridge University Press has produced a paperback edition, thereby bringing this important volume within the price-range of all astronomers. And by 'all astronomers' I include amateurs, for William Huggins was surely one of the world's foremost nineteenth century amateur astronomers. … One of the strengths of this book is the space assigned to Huggins' involvement in astropolitics. Barbara Becker also skilfully presents the deteriorating relationships between Huggins and Norman Lockyer and Huggins and Dr Henry Draper, and the growing friendship between Huggins and George Ellery Hale. She also reveals the critical part played by Margaret Huggins (née Murray) in her husband's research, and in continuing to actively promote his public persona after his death in 1910. … Barbara has an appealing style of writing, and consequently Unravelling Starlight … is an entertaining and easy read.' Wayne Orchiston, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage

Spis treści

1. Introduction; 2. '… the astronomer … must come to the chemist'; 3. The young observer; 4. 'A sudden impulse …'; 5. The riddle of the nebulae; 6. Moving in the inner circle; 7. Stellar motion along the line of sight; 8. A new telescope; 9. Solar observatories; 10. An able assistant; 11. Photographing the solar corona; 12. A scientific lady; 13. Foes and allies; 14. The new astronomy; 15. 'One true mistress'; 16. Conclusion; Appendix; Index.