Discovery of the First Asteroid, Ceres

Synopsis

Based on extensive primary sources,many never previously translated into English, this is the definitive accountof the origins of Ceres as it went from being classified as a new planet toreclassification as the first of a previously unknown group of celestialobjects. Cunningham opens this critical moment of astronomical discovery tofull modern analysis for the first time. This book includes all the voluminouscorrespondence, translated into English, between the astronomers of Europeabout the startling discovery of Ceres by Piazzi in 1801. It covers the periodup to March 1802, at which time Pallas was discovered. Also included arePiazzi's two monographs about Ceres, and the sections of two books dealing withCeres, one by Johann Bode, the other by Johann Schroeter. The origin of theword 'asteroid' is explained, along with several chapters on the antecedents ofthe story going back to ancient Greek times. The formulation of Bode's Law isgiven, as are the details on the efforts of Baron von Zach to organize a searchfor the supposed missing planet between Mars and Jupiter. Examples of versecreated to commemorate the great discovery are included in this first volume. The author, who has a PhD in the History of Astronomy, is a dedicated scholarof the story of asteroids and his research on the discovery of Ceres iscomprehensive and fully sourced. The discovery came at a time when rivalastronomers were in hot competition with each other, and when the true natureof these celestial bodies was not yet known. With astronomers in France, Italyand beyond vying to understand and receive credit for the new class of astralbodies, drama was not in short supply--nor were scientific advances.

Copyright:

2016

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9783319217772

Publisher:

Springer International Publishing, Cham

Date of Addition:

11/16/16

Copyrighted By:

Springer

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Science

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.