The History of Astronomy Author:Heather Couper, Nigel Henbest Packed with color photographs, this comprehensive reference chronicles the history of astronomy. This extraordinary book traces humans' interaction with the endless wonders of the night sky. The authors, both expert astronomers, researched 29 locations worldwide, from Beijing's ancient observatory to the observatory in Puerto Rico that... more » searches for alien radio signals. They also interviewed 26 of the world's most esteemed astronomers, including Stephen Hawking. Comprehensive in scope, The History of Astronomy covers such topics as:
Early navigators and astronomers, the Star of Bethlehem
Early concepts of the Earth's shape and orbit
Galileo and Copernicus
The solar system and the movements of the planets
Newton and Halley
The discovery of Uranus and Neptune, plus the discovery and demotion of Pluto
What stars are made of and why they shine
Hubble, the cosmos, new galaxies, the Big Bang
Pulsars, quasars and black holes
Are we alone?
Through its engaging narrative and stunning full-color photography, The History of Astronomy tells the remarkable story of a discipline that continues to test the limits of imagination and exploration.« less