Author: Neil English
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9783319977065
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 722

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Book Description

This book surveys the explosion of astronomy after the telescope arrived on the scene, covering not just well-known figures like Galileo and Sir Patrick Moore but also a raft of supporting characters. Each person included in these pages played an important role in constructing the foundation of astronomy as we recognize it today, and all of them employed the tools of visual astronomy to achieve their goals. The first telescopes were inevitably crude devices, but that did not deter their enthusiastic use and their potential to revolutionize humankind’s visual reach ever further into the heavens. The major advancements in optical instruments created an insatiable desire for further improvements. As the telescope improved, so too did the skills and talents of the first people to utilize them. Who these men and women were, the difficult conditions in which they frequently labored, and the many surprising – indeed, given the nature of their equipment, often amazing – discoveries they made, is the subject matter of this book. It is a fascinating tale of dedication, insight, intuition, and perseverance, all of which were fueled by an unquenchable thirst to understand the logic behind the heavens.