Measuring the Universe: Cosmic Dimensions from Aristarchus to HalleyUniversity of Chicago Press, Dec 15, 2010 - 212 pages Measuring the Universe is the first history of the evolution of cosmic dimensions, from the work of Eratosthenes and Aristarchus in the third century B.C. to the efforts of Edmond Halley (1656—1742). "Van Helden's authoritative treatment is concise and informative; he refers to numerous sources of information, draws on the discoveries of modern scholarship, and presents the first book-length treatment of this exceedingly important branch of science."—Edward Harrison, American Journal of Physics "Van Helden writes well, with a flair for clear explanation. I warmly recommend this book."—Colin A. Ronan, Journal of the British Astronomical Association |
Contents
1 | |
4 | |
3 Ptolemy | 15 |
4 The Ptolemaic System Enshrined | 28 |
5 Copernicus and Tycho | 41 |
6 Young Kepler | 54 |
7 Galileo and the Telescope | 65 |
8 Keplers Synthesis | 77 |
10 From Horrocks to Riccioli | 105 |
11 The Micrometer from Huygens to Flamsteed | 118 |
12 Cassini Flamsteed and the New Measure | 129 |
13 The New Consensus and Halleys Legacy | 144 |
Measurement Theory and Speculation | 160 |
Notes | 165 |
187 | |
199 | |
Other editions - View all
Measuring the Universe: Cosmic Dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley Albert Van Helden Limited preview - 2010 |
Measuring the Universe: Cosmic Dimensions from Aristarchus to Halley Albert Van Helden No preview available - 1986 |
Common terms and phrases
absolute distances accuracy accurate actual diameter al-Farghānī Almagest ameter angular diameter apogee apparent diameter Aristarchus astronomers calculated Cassini Cayenne Copernican Copernicus Copernicus's corrections cosmos determine diame difference disk eccentricity eclipse diagram epicycle Epitome equal error figure fixed stars Flamsteed Galileo Gassendi greatest distance Halley HAMA heavenly bodies heliocentric Hipparchus horizontal parallax horizontal solar parallax Horrocks Horrocks's Hortensius Huygens Ibid instruments JKGW Jupiter Jupiter's Kepler larger least distance lunar dichotomy lunar distance Maestlin's magnitude Mars's parallax mathematical mean distance Mercury Mercury's method micrometer miles nesting spheres Newton parallax of Mars parameters perigee planetary diameters planetary distances Planetary Hypotheses planetary sizes predicted proportion Ptolemaic System Ptolemy Ptolemy's quadrature radius ratio refraction Remus Riccioli right ascension Saturn Scheiner scheme of sizes semidiameter Sidereus Nuncius sizes and distances solar distance solar parallax Sole Visa tance TBOO theory tion traditional transit of Venus tronomers Tycho Brahe Venus in Sole