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The Story of Astronomy
From the ancient origins of astronomy to the Copernican revolution, and from Galileo to Stephen Hawking's research into black holes, the author of THE TRANSIT OF VENUS charts the discoveries of some of the greatest minds in human history, and their attempts to unveil the secrets of the stars.
This history includes such trivia as why we have 60 minutes in an hour, how the Romans botched the leap year, and when people really discovered that the Earth wasn't flat.
In a fascinating journey through 3,000 years of stargazing, Peter Aughton demonstrates what Newton, Einstein, Hubble, and Hawking really achieved, and evaluates the ongoing search for life on other planets. (Daedalus Books)
This history includes such trivia as why we have 60 minutes in an hour, how the Romans botched the leap year, and when people really discovered that the Earth wasn't flat.
In a fascinating journey through 3,000 years of stargazing, Peter Aughton demonstrates what Newton, Einstein, Hubble, and Hawking really achieved, and evaluates the ongoing search for life on other planets. (Daedalus Books)
394 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 29, 2019
In August 1969 Joni Mitchell couldn’t get to the Woodstock Festival so instead she watched it on tv and wrote a song about it, you may know it
We are stardust
We are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden
It turns out that she was scientifically accurate, as confirmed in the most beautiful passage from this book :
It is true that atoms can be split by collisions with other particles, but in general the atom is indestructible and it can exist forever. The human body is built up from complex organic molecules, but all those molecules are themselves composed of atoms. All the heavy atoms in our body have therefore been created inside a massive star or even in some cases a supernova. The atoms in our bodies are billions of years old. Through all this time the atoms remain “as good as new" . Nor have they aged since the time they left the distant and long-forgotten supernova from where they were originally created. We carry around in us remnants of supernovae explosions that took place aeons ago and millions of light years away.
Try bringing that up at your next family dinner.
“Granny, did you know that your body is composed of remnants of ancient stars which exploded millions of years ago?”
“Will you listen to the boy! You’ve been smoking those drugs again!”
We are stardust
We are golden
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden
It turns out that she was scientifically accurate, as confirmed in the most beautiful passage from this book :
It is true that atoms can be split by collisions with other particles, but in general the atom is indestructible and it can exist forever. The human body is built up from complex organic molecules, but all those molecules are themselves composed of atoms. All the heavy atoms in our body have therefore been created inside a massive star or even in some cases a supernova. The atoms in our bodies are billions of years old. Through all this time the atoms remain “as good as new" . Nor have they aged since the time they left the distant and long-forgotten supernova from where they were originally created. We carry around in us remnants of supernovae explosions that took place aeons ago and millions of light years away.
Try bringing that up at your next family dinner.
“Granny, did you know that your body is composed of remnants of ancient stars which exploded millions of years ago?”
“Will you listen to the boy! You’ve been smoking those drugs again!”
April 19, 2026
The Story of Astronomy by Peter Aughton is a solid and accessible introduction to the history of astronomy, though I found myself wishing it were three times as long. The subject is so expansive, and so full of intellectual drama, that many of its major figures and turning points are necessarily treated only briefly when they might have warranted chapters of their own.
A few omissions stood out. Voltaire, for instance, is not mentioned, despite his considerable role in popularising Newtonian science across Europe. Through his French translation and commentary on Newton’s Principia, Voltaire helped make Newton’s ideas intelligible and fashionable beyond Britain. In a history concerned with how astronomical thought developed and spread, this feels a noteworthy absence.
The book is clearly written for the interested lay reader, and in that respect it succeeds admirably. It begins with the earliest attempts to chart the heavens and proceeds through the Scientific Revolution into modern cosmology, covering an impressive sweep of material in relatively concise form. A newcomer to the subject would undoubtedly learn a great deal.
My principal reservation concerns not the absence of scientific explanation, but the absence of the mathematics beneath it. To be fair, Aughton does explain many major discoveries and conceptual breakthroughs clearly. Newton’s synthesis of celestial and terrestrial motion and Einstein’s reconception of gravity through general relativity are both discussed in intelligible prose. What is largely missing, however, is any sustained engagement with the mathematical language through which these ideas were actually achieved.
For example, the book notes that Newton developed a notation for calculus distinct from Leibniz’s, but neither system is really demonstrated. A reader is told of the dispute and the significance of calculus, yet not shown how Newton’s fluxions or Leibniz’s differentials functioned in practice, nor why Leibniz’s notation ultimately proved more influential. Even a brief worked example would have been illuminating.
Likewise, Einstein’s field equations are described in broad conceptual terms, and the book mentions his need to master tensors in order to formulate general relativity. Yet tensors themselves remain unexplained, as does the mathematical structure of the equations. One need not plunge into advanced differential geometry, but some indication of what tensors are would have helped readers appreciate why they were so essential.
I appreciate why the author chose restraint. A popular history overloaded with symbols and derivations can quickly become forbidding. Yet there is a middle ground between intimidating technicality and almost complete mathematical omission, and I felt this book often erred too far toward the latter. The lack of references and a rather thin Further Reading section also means that readers inspired to go deeper are not given the strongest roadmap for doing so.
That said, I don't mean to be unduly critical. As an introductory survey, this is an informative, readable, and engaging book. It succeeds in conveying the broad arc of humanity’s attempt to understand the heavens, and for many readers that will be more than enough. I simply came away wishing it had trusted its audience with a little more of the mathematics that made those revolutions possible.
3.5 out of 5
A few omissions stood out. Voltaire, for instance, is not mentioned, despite his considerable role in popularising Newtonian science across Europe. Through his French translation and commentary on Newton’s Principia, Voltaire helped make Newton’s ideas intelligible and fashionable beyond Britain. In a history concerned with how astronomical thought developed and spread, this feels a noteworthy absence.
The book is clearly written for the interested lay reader, and in that respect it succeeds admirably. It begins with the earliest attempts to chart the heavens and proceeds through the Scientific Revolution into modern cosmology, covering an impressive sweep of material in relatively concise form. A newcomer to the subject would undoubtedly learn a great deal.
My principal reservation concerns not the absence of scientific explanation, but the absence of the mathematics beneath it. To be fair, Aughton does explain many major discoveries and conceptual breakthroughs clearly. Newton’s synthesis of celestial and terrestrial motion and Einstein’s reconception of gravity through general relativity are both discussed in intelligible prose. What is largely missing, however, is any sustained engagement with the mathematical language through which these ideas were actually achieved.
For example, the book notes that Newton developed a notation for calculus distinct from Leibniz’s, but neither system is really demonstrated. A reader is told of the dispute and the significance of calculus, yet not shown how Newton’s fluxions or Leibniz’s differentials functioned in practice, nor why Leibniz’s notation ultimately proved more influential. Even a brief worked example would have been illuminating.
Likewise, Einstein’s field equations are described in broad conceptual terms, and the book mentions his need to master tensors in order to formulate general relativity. Yet tensors themselves remain unexplained, as does the mathematical structure of the equations. One need not plunge into advanced differential geometry, but some indication of what tensors are would have helped readers appreciate why they were so essential.
I appreciate why the author chose restraint. A popular history overloaded with symbols and derivations can quickly become forbidding. Yet there is a middle ground between intimidating technicality and almost complete mathematical omission, and I felt this book often erred too far toward the latter. The lack of references and a rather thin Further Reading section also means that readers inspired to go deeper are not given the strongest roadmap for doing so.
That said, I don't mean to be unduly critical. As an introductory survey, this is an informative, readable, and engaging book. It succeeds in conveying the broad arc of humanity’s attempt to understand the heavens, and for many readers that will be more than enough. I simply came away wishing it had trusted its audience with a little more of the mathematics that made those revolutions possible.
3.5 out of 5
June 6, 2014
რატომღაც მინდოდა ამ წიგნისთვის უფრო მაღალი შეფასება მიმეცა, მაგრამ ასტრონომიის ისტორიის წარმოდგენა უფრო ვრცლად და საინტერესოდაც შეიძლებოდა.
შეიძლებოდა მეტი ინფორმაცია ყოფილიყო უძველესი ცივილიზაციების კალენდრებზე და ასტრონომიაზე. (მაგალითად მაიას ასტრონომია) შეიძლებოდა გაცილებით მეტი დაწერილიყო ტიხო ბრაჰეზე, კეპლერზე, ნიუტონზე, ჰერშელზე, ჰიუგენსზე (ჰიუგენსი საერთოდ არ იყო) ან ძველ ბერძნებზე, ალექსანდრიის სკოლაზე. მეოცე საუკუნის საოცარ აღმოჩენებზე. თანავარსკვლავედებზე და მათთან დაკავშირებულ მითებსა და წარმოდგენებზე, ან თუნდაც ასტროლოგიაზე, რომელიც მართალია დღეს სრულიად ზედმეტია პრაქტიკული თვალსაზრისით და ლამის new age რელიგიად იქცეს, მაგრამ ასტრონომიასთან ერთად დაიბადა და ხშირად მისგან განურჩეველიც იყო სანამ განმანათლებლობამ არ დააშორა მასთან.
არ გეგონოთ რომ ამ წიგნში საინტერესო მასალა არაა, მაგრამ "ასტრონომიის ისტორიისგან" გაცილებით მეტს ველოდი და უფრო ვრცლად.
რაც შეეხება დადებით მომენტს, ეს არის მარტივი ენით მოყოლილი ამბავი რომელიც არ დაგღლით. თუ გაინტერესებთ ასტრონომია, გირჩევთ წაიკითხოთ, მაგრამ გახსოვდეთ რომ არსებობს უამრავი ამბავი და აღმოჩენა რომელიც ამ წიგნის მიღმა რჩება. რომ ეს წიგნი ასტრონომიის ისტორიის მხოლოდ მონახაზს წარმოადგენს.
შეიძლებოდა მეტი ინფორმაცია ყოფილიყო უძველესი ცივილიზაციების კალენდრებზე და ასტრონომიაზე. (მაგალითად მაიას ასტრონომია) შეიძლებოდა გაცილებით მეტი დაწერილიყო ტიხო ბრაჰეზე, კეპლერზე, ნიუტონზე, ჰერშელზე, ჰიუგენსზე (ჰიუგენსი საერთოდ არ იყო) ან ძველ ბერძნებზე, ალექსანდრიის სკოლაზე. მეოცე საუკუნის საოცარ აღმოჩენებზე. თანავარსკვლავედებზე და მათთან დაკავშირებულ მითებსა და წარმოდგენებზე, ან თუნდაც ასტროლოგიაზე, რომელიც მართალია დღეს სრულიად ზედმეტია პრაქტიკული თვალსაზრისით და ლამის new age რელიგიად იქცეს, მაგრამ ასტრონომიასთან ერთად დაიბადა და ხშირად მისგან განურჩეველიც იყო სანამ განმანათლებლობამ არ დააშორა მასთან.
არ გეგონოთ რომ ამ წიგნში საინტერესო მასალა არაა, მაგრამ "ასტრონომიის ისტორიისგან" გაცილებით მეტს ველოდი და უფრო ვრცლად.
რაც შეეხება დადებით მომენტს, ეს არის მარტივი ენით მოყოლილი ამბავი რომელიც არ დაგღლით. თუ გაინტერესებთ ასტრონომია, გირჩევთ წაიკითხოთ, მაგრამ გახსოვდეთ რომ არსებობს უამრავი ამბავი და აღმოჩენა რომელიც ამ წიგნის მიღმა რჩება. რომ ეს წიგნი ასტრონომიის ისტორიის მხოლოდ მონახაზს წარმოადგენს.
February 4, 2023
This is a good general read about the history of astronomy, from ancient theories and attempts to measure the world to modern day achievements with space telescopes and particle accelerators.
I would have liked more on the ancient Babylonians, Greeks etc as it felt they rather got skimmed over, but then a lot of the texts known from that time exist mainly as quotations in later works. Similarly, although there are brief mentions of the Aztecs, Maya and other pre-Columbian Latin American cultures, they also get quite short-changed considering how advanced we know their astronomical knowledge was.
It's a very European-focused book, which is a bit frustrating, but you get all of the main names in here, along with explanations of their discoveries, theories etc. A lot of attention is given to the fact that science is always building on previous discoveries, always exploring what can be done or extrapolated from previous work, and the key figures are often linked in interesting (if sometimes coincidental ways).
The one other nitpick I would have is that the author often refers to "the moment of creation" when referring to e.g. star formation, the Big Bang, as if he believes something is actively putting things together. "Formation" would be more scientific, and his constant use of "creation", albeit with a small c, does make me think he's trying to smuggle in a religious viewpoint without being too obvious about it. Which annoys me slightly as I don't like people trying to smuggle religious views into a scientific book (*If* that is what he's doing - it could just be a poor choice of words, in which case fair enough).
Overall, it's a good overview - and you can always find a more specialist book to look further into certain details if you want to.
I would have liked more on the ancient Babylonians, Greeks etc as it felt they rather got skimmed over, but then a lot of the texts known from that time exist mainly as quotations in later works. Similarly, although there are brief mentions of the Aztecs, Maya and other pre-Columbian Latin American cultures, they also get quite short-changed considering how advanced we know their astronomical knowledge was.
It's a very European-focused book, which is a bit frustrating, but you get all of the main names in here, along with explanations of their discoveries, theories etc. A lot of attention is given to the fact that science is always building on previous discoveries, always exploring what can be done or extrapolated from previous work, and the key figures are often linked in interesting (if sometimes coincidental ways).
The one other nitpick I would have is that the author often refers to "the moment of creation" when referring to e.g. star formation, the Big Bang, as if he believes something is actively putting things together. "Formation" would be more scientific, and his constant use of "creation", albeit with a small c, does make me think he's trying to smuggle in a religious viewpoint without being too obvious about it. Which annoys me slightly as I don't like people trying to smuggle religious views into a scientific book (*If* that is what he's doing - it could just be a poor choice of words, in which case fair enough).
Overall, it's a good overview - and you can always find a more specialist book to look further into certain details if you want to.
March 4, 2020
A compact, yet full of information, book with a simple and entertaining storytelling style. Learning about the history of astronomy as the oldest science of all means digging deeper into the origin of all physical sciences. Totally recommended for someone who wants to know about how modern cosmological science arises in one (or two) sitting(s).
In brief, the history of astronomy until the renaissance era is divided into four periods: Astronomy from Babylon to Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt, The age of Ptolemy and the Almagest, Astronomy in the Middle Ages and Islamic golden age, and the most remarkable moment: the Copernican revolution. Those long and harsh journeys through centuries, along with Einstein's relativity and the rise of Quantum Physics that redefine astronomy, guide humanities to the age of modern science and space explorations.
In brief, the history of astronomy until the renaissance era is divided into four periods: Astronomy from Babylon to Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt, The age of Ptolemy and the Almagest, Astronomy in the Middle Ages and Islamic golden age, and the most remarkable moment: the Copernican revolution. Those long and harsh journeys through centuries, along with Einstein's relativity and the rise of Quantum Physics that redefine astronomy, guide humanities to the age of modern science and space explorations.
October 3, 2021
Overall, this is a well-written summary of the story of astronomy for a wide audience including non-scientists. There are a few spots that were bothersome to me, however, including the false claim that the Apollo lunar missions provided little of commercial value and the false statement, "After the Moon landing the next step in the exploration of space no longer involved piloted missions." Also, for a book written in 2008 and updated in 2011, I was surprised to find outdated information on the status of the final Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission (STS-125 that flew in May 2009) and zero mention at all of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) commissioned in 2003 by NASA with an originally planned launch in 2010.
December 25, 2021
Great review of what we have a achieved in Astronomy
This book is well written and easy to read. Although written with the lay audience in mind it is an informative yet concise review of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology. It reviews many of the people along with their contributions to the advancement of these disciplines. Rich with relevant historical, geographical and scientific information, from Babylon to the present day, without burdening the reader with complex scientific theories or mathematics. If you have even a passive interest in the history of astronomy and cosmology you will enjoy this book.
This book is well written and easy to read. Although written with the lay audience in mind it is an informative yet concise review of astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology. It reviews many of the people along with their contributions to the advancement of these disciplines. Rich with relevant historical, geographical and scientific information, from Babylon to the present day, without burdening the reader with complex scientific theories or mathematics. If you have even a passive interest in the history of astronomy and cosmology you will enjoy this book.
June 2, 2021
A fascinating read which captures the complex beauty of the universe in a relatively accessible way.
The only complaint one may make is the use of terminology only explained once and then repetitively used later on in the book creating a mild sense of confusion.
Overall, this book has been very inspiring for me, an aspiring phycisist.
The only complaint one may make is the use of terminology only explained once and then repetitively used later on in the book creating a mild sense of confusion.
Overall, this book has been very inspiring for me, an aspiring phycisist.
July 31, 2017
Nice short pieces of history to casually read over. Nothing too heavy which is refreshing.
July 19, 2019
A joy to read. Simple language, easy to understand. A brief history of the study of astronomy.
September 12, 2012
This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in the history of astronomy. It covers from the very earliest days of man looking into the night sky and wondering about the twinkling lights through to the latest research into dark matter and dark energy (although the book was published in 2008, so the latest information is a few years old now).
It is written for those who may not have a background in science, and it doesn't require any great mathematical ability to be able to follow and digest the information provided - I can only recall one page having any equations, other than Einstein's famous equation on the relationship between mass and energy.
It is written for those who may not have a background in science, and it doesn't require any great mathematical ability to be able to follow and digest the information provided - I can only recall one page having any equations, other than Einstein's famous equation on the relationship between mass and energy.
June 8, 2013
Space is so amazing but also very terrifying - the universe is expanding but where does it expand to???
This book was very good, I learned so much. 10/10
This book was very good, I learned so much. 10/10
July 13, 2016
Perfect book to know how everything around has started. Easy to understand and interesting to proceed to the next chapters.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews