Eclipses, Transits, And Comets Of The Nineteenth Century: How America's Perception Of The Skies Changed (astrophysics And Space Science Library)
by Wayne Orchiston /
2014 / English / PDF
27.2 MB Download
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.
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.