The Cambridge Concise History of Astronomy

Cambridge Illustrated Histories

by Michael Hoskin (Editor)

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences, and one which has repeatedly led to fundamental changes in our view of the world. This book covers the history of our study of the cosmos from prehistory to a survey of modern astronomy and astrophysics. It does not attempt to cover everything, but deliberately concentrates on the important themes and topics, including stellar astronomy in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries--the source of many important concepts in modern astronomy--and the Copernican revolution, which led to the challenge of ancient authorities in many areas other than astronomy. This is an essential text for students of the history of science and for students of astronomy who require a historical background to their studies.

Genres: Astronomy, Science, History, Nonfiction, Reference, Space

376 pages, Hardcover

First published November 28, 1996

Reviews

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astronomy has come a long way, and we think we have a much better idea today than did the philosophers and scientists of previous, primitive times. In comparing what we know now with what was known before, we can readily see how much more fact-based and sophisticated our theories have become as the equipment to see and measure has improved.

But I wonder ... if we could go 1,000 years into the future, would we evaluate what we know today as no better an explanation of our universe than what was believed 1,000 years ago?

It's all a theory. We don't really know. And we probably never will.

[Valéria]

Read for university (from early Babylonian astronomy until early Latin Medieval studies)

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about histories of science are the presentation of the process of the gradual shift in world view (and cosmological view), based upon the combination of facts accumulating and theories developing to explain those facts.

Astronomy is a fascinating topic. This illustrated history is excellent. One thing that intrigues me is the engineering of the instruments of precision necessary for this science to progress.

Although much has happened in the past 30 years or so, the history before that was a litany of revelation, a falling from the eyes of the scales of ignorance about the true nature of the universe.

While in the past 100 years atomic physics and relativity have added a lot to the conceptual tools available to people theorising about, and trying to build explanatory power in what they observe re: the universe, it is still surprising, that will all the intellectual sophistication and high powered precision technology, some of the ultimate questions of where the universe came from are really no closer to a definitive answer. Yes there is the dominant big bang theory - which I think is now (25 years later), much more well supported, but philosophical questions about 'the beginning' are still mysterious.

"The whole universe was in a hot dense state..."

I always thought flat-earther's must be cynical-sarcastic-ironic, but there really is no need for that. Reality is so complex, vast and interesting, the psychological gain from a mocking conspiracy theory pales in comparison to the difficult, yet rewarding work of understanding WHY the dominant mainstream view believes specific things about the cosmos.

I'm sure there must be more contemporary textbooks on this topic, and multitudes of online resources, which this has inspired me to investigate more. But with a good range of images on every page, and rigorous historic research, this book still has a lot to offer.

[Joel Olsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jag läste den här boken främst därför den används inom ramen av en kurs som jag läser. Intressant bok, men jag har insett att jag inte är så astronomi intresserad egentligen. Det är förmodligen mycket roligare om du har ett stort astronomiskt intresse och vill veta hur processen sett ut när det kommer till astronomin och dess upptäckter. Min favorit del var främst början med grekerna och mayafolket.

Den får totalt 3,3 stjärnor.

[Cemilönsüren]

okuyamadım düşüncelerim boş olacak

[Brie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dated but interesting History of Astronomy. Published in 1997, this book goes no further than the 1970's; a disappointment to say the least. The author skipped over anything that required a knowledge of physics which obviously left a great deal of that information out. Interesting and detailed up until the section dealing with Astrophysics, there is a noticeable decline in the remaining text.

The book starts out with Stonehenge and moves quickly to Babylon and the Greeks, which is where the text starts to get (understandably) more detailed. There are a large number of illustrations and photos which definitely add to the book, as well as helpful astronomer biographies. Hoskin does a good job of explaining how the astronomer came upon their discoveries and theories, but also explains the details for how it works; by far the books strongest point.

Once the book reaches Astrophysics, it becomes less detailed and more confusing. The discoveries are not given in a linear fashion as the previous sections were, but instead by subject. This leads to a lot of jumping around in history and makes it hard to keep things straight. Some of this is understandable as many discoveries were happening simultaneously, but I think it could have been layed out better. Hoskin also gives us less information, and so the text feels rushed. For example, Newton had 20 pages describing his contributions to astronomy, but Einstein had a total of 3 paragraphs.

The first 250 pages or so I would give 4 stars, the remaining text I would give 2 stars. If you are interested in the History of Astronomy up until the late 1800's, definitely pick up this book. I suggest looking elsewhere for developments since then.

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read all of this, merely dipped in and out for research purposes. It is a lovely book, lots and lots of pictures and diagrams and neatly set out, but I did have a couple of issues with it.

First, it does assume a lot of technical understanding, and I simply don't have it, so there were quite a few sections where I was utterly lost - fascinated, but lost.

Secondly, for me it lacked historical context. There is context, but it's primarily astronomical, and I didn't get much of a sense of the place of astronomy within the wider histories. Maybe that wasn't the point (probably it wasn't) but I that without a sense of how these discoveries were being received, the book was quite dry and flat.

On saying that, it does exactly what it says, and provides a history of astronomy, eastern and western, some really good associated mythology, and I have no doubt I'll be going back to it when I've got a bit more up to speed with the stars myself.

[Liz C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This version doesn't go into the same amount of detail as the Norton History yet when it does cover something fairly technical it is well worded and easier to follow than the Norton book.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great for a school textbook and a good overarching look at the evolution of European astronomy.

[Larry Gerovac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like reading about Stonehinge, building customs based on astronomy, ancient Egyptian calendars, beliefs of Copernicus, and the development of telescopes... then you'll love this book.