The earliest investigations into what is now called astronomy arose out of the social necessities of early communities. These ancient peoples needed information in order to make calendars, keep time accurately, find directions and navigate. All this information could be determined from the night sky, prompting the invention and development of geometrical models in order to determine how the Earth, Sun and Moon, planets and stars are arranged in space. All cultures have asked, what is the structure of the universe? Some cultures based their overall view of the universe on mythology, whereas others used religious principles or philosophical arguments. The raw data for all these disciplines, however, was the same - the movement of the planets and stars. This book explores the development of conceptual ideas of the universe through the centuries and shows how these changes have been reflected in mechanical devices. It tells of the celestial globes of Aristotle, the planetary clocks of Eudoxus, sundials, nocturnals and false astrolabes. It discusses the observatories of Islam, Newtonian mechanics and the Copernican revolution.
It explores the development of clocks that led to the standardization of railway time-keeping systems in both the UK and the US, and tells how instrument makers played a vital part in the improvement of navigation. The book takes us to modern times where the technoastronomical revolution has provided new solutions to our current understanding of the universe.
- ISBN10 0856675091
- ISBN13 9780856675096
- Publish Date 25 April 2003
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 11 March 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd
- Format Paperback
- Pages 208
- Language English