Babylon to Voyager and Beyond: A History of Planetary Astronomy

by David Leverington

Overview

Babylon to Voyager and Beyond describes the fascinating story of planetary research from the time of the Babylonians and Ancient Greeks to the modern age of space exploration. In it, David Leverington outlines the key astronomical discoveries in their historical context, covering not only the successes but also the main failures. Babylon to Voyager and Beyond is written to be accessible to both amateur and professional astronomers, and those interested in the history of science. Extensively illustrated, the book concludes with a description of the extensive planetary discoveries made by spacecraft, and the discoveries of planets around other stars.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521004619
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/26/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	572
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.18(d)

About the Author

David Leverington held a variety of senior positions in the space industry, and is now retired.

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction; 1. The ancients; 2. Copernicus and the new cosmology; 3. Kepler and Galileo - the fall of epicycles and the start of telescopic astronomy; 4. The mid and late seventeenth century; 5. Consolidation; 6. The solar system expands; 7. The inner solar system in the nineteenth century; 8. The outer solar system in the nineteenth century; 9. Quiet interlude - the twentieth century prior to the space age; 10. The space age - terrestrial planets; 11. The space age - the outer planets; Glossary; Bibliography; Units; Name index; Subject index.

Editorial Reviews

"An unusually complete and authoritative overview and a valuable library resource. Highly recommended." Choice

"...highly readable...Given the level of unusual detail and high quality illustrations included, this volume belongs in the science collections of public libraries of all sizes, college and university libraries supporting both graduate and undergraduate programs in astronomy and allied planetary sciences, and museum libraries at institutions which emphasize astronomy and space science as part of their collections' profiles." E-STREAMS

From the Publisher