1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910300156303321

Autore

Stén Johan C.-E

Titolo

A Comet of the Enlightenment : Anders Johan Lexell's Life and Discoveries / / by Johan C.-E. Stén

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Birkhäuser, , 2014

ISBN

3-319-00618-5

Edizione

[1st ed. 2014.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (309 p.)

Collana

Vita Mathematica, , 1013-0330  ; ; 17

Disciplina

510.92

Soggetti

Mathematics

History

Geometry

Astronomy

Astrophysics

History of Mathematical Sciences

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

1 Setting the scene -- 2 The humble beginnings -- 3 New prospects in Saint Petersburg -- 4 Formation of an Academician -- 5 Professor of astronomy -- 6 Professional relations and correspondence -- 7 Academic events in Saint Petersburg -- 8 Lexell’s work in mathematics -- 9 Academic Journey 1780–1781 -- 10 Return to an Academy in crisis -- 12 A sketch of Lexell’s personality -- 13 Conclusion -- 14 Appendices.

Sommario/riassunto

The Finnish mathematician and astronomer Anders Johan Lexell (1740–1784) was a long-time close collaborator as well as the academic successor of Leonhard Euler at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Saint Petersburg. Lexell was initially invited by Euler from his native town of Abo (Turku) in Finland to Saint Petersburg to assist in the mathematical processing of the astronomical data of the forthcoming transit of Venus of 1769. A few years later he became an ordinary member of the Academy. This is the first-ever full-length biography devoted to Lexell and his prolific scientific output. His rich



correspondence especially from his grand tour to Germany, France and England reveals him as a lucid observer of the intellectual landscape of enlightened Europe. In the skies, a comet, a minor planet and a crater on the Moon named after Lexell also perpetuate his memory.