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Title
Discovery of the first asteroid, ceres [electronic resource] : historical studies in asteroid research / Clifford Cunningham.
ISBN
9783319217772 (electronic book)
3319217771 (electronic book)
9783319217765
3319217763
Published
Cham : Springer, 2016.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource : illustrations.
Other Standard Identifiers
10.1007/978-3-319-21777-2 doi
Call Number
QB378.C4
Dewey Decimal Classification
523.44
Summary
Based on extensive primary sources, many never previously translated into English, this is the definitive account of the origins of Ceres as it went from being classified as a new planet to reclassification as the first of a previously unknown group of celestial objects. Cunningham opens this critical moment of astronomical discovery to full modern analysis for the first time. This book includes all the voluminous correspondence, translated into English, between the astronomers of Europe about the startling discovery of Ceres by Piazzi in 1801. It covers the period up to March 1802, at which time Pallas was discovered. Also included are Piazzi's two monographs about Ceres, and the sections of two books dealing with Ceres, one by Johann Bode, the other by Johann Schroeter. The origin of the word 'asteroid' is explained, along with several chapters on the antecedents of the story going back to ancient Greek times. The formulation of Bode's Law is given, as are the details on the efforts of Baron von Zach to organize a search for the supposed missing planet between Mars and Jupiter. Examples of verse created to commemorate the great discovery are included in this first volume. The author, who has a PhD in the History of Astronomy, is a dedicated scholar of the story of asteroids and his research on the discovery of Ceres is comprehensive and fully sourced. The discovery came at a time when rival astronomers were in hot competition with each other, and when the true nature of these celestial bodies was not yet known. With astronomers in France, Italy and beyond vying to understand and receive credit for the new class of astral bodies, drama was not in short supply--nor were scientific advances.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description
Online resource; title from PDF title page (viewed October 16, 2015).
Available in Other Form
Print version: 9783319217765
The Unseen Planet
The Discovery of Ceres
The Recovery of Ceres
The Great Nomenclature Controversy of 1801
The Physical Properties of Ceres
How Did The Public Learn About Ceres?
Piazzi's Monographs
Bode's Book of 1802
Schroeter's Book of 1805
British Correspondence About Ceres
Letters between Piazzi and Oriani
Letters Between Olbers and Bode
Zach's Ceres Correspondence
Other Ceres Correspondence
Appendix 1: A Description of the Ramsden Circle.-Appendix 2: The Events of 1801
Appendix 3: The Historical Development of the Orbital Elements of Ceres
Appendix 4: Star Atlases.
