1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910300435503321

Autore

Cottam Stella

Titolo

Eclipses, Transits, and Comets of the Nineteenth Century : How America's Perception of the Skies Changed / / by Stella Cottam, Wayne Orchiston

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Springer, , 2015

ISBN

3-319-08341-4

Edizione

[1st ed. 2015.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (345 p.)

Collana

Astrophysics and Space Science Library, , 0067-0057 ; ; 406

Disciplina

509

520

530

530.01

Soggetti

Observations, Astronomical

Astronomy—Observations

History

Physics

Astronomy, Observations and Techniques

History of Science

History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics

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

Introduction -- Historical Overview- The United States and Astronomy Until the 1860S -- Scientific Overview -- Popular Astronomy and the Solar Eclipses of 1868, 1869 and 1878 -- Popular Astronomy and the Transits of Venus of 1874 and 1882 -- Discussion -- Concluding Remarks -- References.

Sommario/riassunto

Grabbing the attention of poets, politicians and the general public alike, a series of spectacular astronomical events in the late 1800s galvanized Americans to take a greater interest in astronomy than ever before. At a time when the sciences were not yet as well established in the United States as they were in Europe, this public interest and support provided the growing scientific community in the United States with the platform they needed to advance the field of astronomy in the



United States. Earlier in the 19th century comets, meteors and the discovery of the planet Neptune were all sources of inspiration to the general public. The specific events to be considered here are the total solar eclipses of 1868, 1869 and 1878 and the transits of Venus of 1874 and 1882. The available media responded to public interest as well as generating more interest. These events laid the groundwork that led to today's thriving network of American amateur astronomers, and provide a fascinating look at earlier conceptions of the stars.