The Measurement of Starlight: Two Centuries of Astronomical Photometry

by J. B. Hearnshaw

Overview

Astronomical photometry is the science of measuring the brightness and colors of stars and other celestial objects. This authoritative volume traces the fascinating historical development of astronomical photometry from visual techniques at the time of William Herschel in the 1780s to the birth of photometry with charge-coupled devices in the 1970s. In this intriguing survey, the author shows how the advent of new technology has revolutionized the science of photometry at each stage of its development, and what dramatic advances have been achieved despite several major disasters—especially in the practice of photographic photometry. This book also clearly illustrates the critical relationship between the development of a science and the technology it uses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521403931
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/02/1996
Pages:	526
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 1.14(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; List of illustrations; 1. Early stellar magnitudes; 2. Visual estimates of stellar magnitudes and colour; 3. Visual photometry; 4. Photographic photometry, 1839–1922; 5. The origins of photoelectric photometry; 6. Photometry at longer wavelengths; 7. Photographic photometry from 1922; 8. Photometry and the birth of astrophysics; 9. Photoelectric photometry with the photomultiplier tube; 10. Photometry with electronic area detectors; Sources of illustrations; Index of names; Index of star names; Index of subjects.

Editorial Reviews

"The Measurement of Starlight is a well written and lively history of stellar photometry. The text is most appropriate for professional astronomers with a historical bent....Everyone should relish the rich history of astronomical photometry and Hearnshaw's skill in presenting it." Scott Kenyon, Sky & Telescope

"This is first-rate scholarship, a must for every science library." H.K. Eichhorn, Choice

"This is a useful reference work, thoroughly researched and clearly written. Hearnshaw's good historical sense shines through the dreary nature of the subject in insightful comments throughout the book." Norriss S. Hetherington, Historical Studies in the Ohysical Biological Sciences

"...an enjoyable account of the people and techniques in the science of Photometry." Murray Paulson, The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada-Edmonton Centre

From the Publisher