This book takes the reader on an exploration of the Cosmos, from Mesopotamia and Egypt to China; it unveils the fascinating development of astronomy and mathematics. After an overview of the origins of these subjects, highlighting the contributions of Greek astronomers, the Arab culture, and Copernicus' solar system model, the book delves into the revolutionary work of Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the solar system.
Special attention is given to the instruments used by ancient astronomers, including the most important astronomical clocks and planetary machines. In light of this, the author examines Kepler's almost unknown design of a planetary machine and offers an interpretation using virtual reality techniques.
The book also highlights the Chinese view of the Cosmos and the evolution of its astronomy and astronomical machines, offering readers a unique perspective and insight into the relationship between astronomy and technology in different cultures.
Finally, the author provides a practical approach to understanding the construction and mechanics of astronomical machines, exploring the process of designing and manufacturing a Tellurium.
The reading is enriched with short videos of the Tellurium, along with a translation of the description of the planetary machine by Christiaan Huygens. In addition, it provides a unique glimpse into the religious influences on astronomical studies during the mid-1700s through the translation of Johann Albrecht Bengel's book Cyclus.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of science and technology. It appeals to astronomers, mathematicians, physicists, and historians of science and technology alike, providing fascinating descriptions and insightful analysis of the vision of the Cosmos from its earliest conceptions to the present day.
Author(s): Daniele L. R. Marini
Series: Astronomers' Universe
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: xviii; 501
City: Cham
Tags: Cosmos--Exploration; Cosmos--Exploration--History; Cosmos--Exploration--History--Cultures; Ancient Greek technology; Antikythera; Astronomical clocks; Planetary machines and orreries; Astronomical machines and their inventors; Horologist and machine builders;
Preface
Acknowledgments
Contents
About the Author
1: Introduction
2: Mathematics and Astronomy from Origin to Eighteenth Century
The Origin
Ancient Mathematics and Astronomy Until the End of the Roman Empire
Arab Mathematics and Astronomy during the Middle Age
From Renaissance to XVII Century
The XVIII Century
Academia and University
3: Ancient Visions of the Cosmos: Orienting, Classifying and Modeling
Orienting in the Sky: The Constellations
Stars Catalogs
The Motion and the Shape of the Cosmos
Eratosthenes, Eudoxos, Callippus and Aristoteles
Hipparchus and Apollonius
Claudius Ptolemy
Humanism and the Rebirth of the Studies
The Invention of the Solar System: Nicolaus Copernicus
4: A Lucky Astral Conjunction
In Search of Precision: Tycho Brahe
Johannes Kepler: A Journey in the Space
Galileo: Looking into the Deep Sky
The Cause of Celestial Motion: Isaac Newton
5: The New Vision of the Cosmos
Shape and Motion of the Earth
The Satellites of Jupiter
The Motion of the Moon
The Tides
The Speed of Light
The Planetary Periods
The Astrological Vision of the Cosmos
6: The Instruments
Mechanics
Instruments to Guide the Observation
Measuring the Time
A Challenge Between French and English: Measuring the Meridian and the Time in Navigation
7: The First Astronomical Machine: Antikythera
The Discovery
The Dating
Structure and Functions of the Mechanism
The Missing Parts: The Motion of the Moon, the Sun, and the Planetarium
The Planetarium
Construction Technology and Materials
Copies and Simulations
8: Astronomical Machines and Clocks from the Arab Times to the Renaissance
Astronomical Instruments of the Caliphate
Renaissance
Sphères Mouvant and Globes of Sixteenth Century. Eberhard Baldewein and Oronce Finé
Jost Bürgi: Mathematician, Mechanic, Clock Maker, Astronomer
9: Toward Planetary Machines
Paving the Way to the New Cosmos: Kepler’s Planetary Machine
Ole Rømer: Jovilabium and Planispherium
Christiaan Huygens
10: Orreries and Astronomical Clocks
The Planetary Machine by Thompion and Graham
The Dissemination of the New Astronomy in England
George Adams
Thomas Wright, Thomas Heath, Benjamin Martin
James Ferguson
The Cometarium
Italian Astronomical Machines
Francesco Generini and Bartolomeo Ferrari
Bernardo Facini: The Planisferologio Farnese
Francesco Borghesi and Bartolomeo Antonio Bertolla
11: France and Switzerland
Claude Simeon Passemant
Antide Janvier
François Ducommun
12: Blossoming in Germany and Austria: The Priestermechaniker
Bernard Stuart
Johan Georg Neßtfells
Johannes Klein
David Rutschmann, Frater David a S. Cajetano
Michael Fras – Frater Aurelius a S. Daniele
Engelbert Wenzel Seige
Alexius Johann
Philip Mathäus Hahn
The Universal Chronology
13: Chinese Philosophical and Mathematical Thought
Kingdoms and Dynasties
Philosophical Schools
Mathematics
14: Chinese Astronomy and Astronomical Machines
The Image of the Cosmos
The Arrival of the Jesuits and Western Astronomy
Mechanics
Astronomical Instruments and Machines
Chinese and Western Mathematics and Astronomy
15: Design of a Simple Planetary Machine
Background
Design Constraints
Gear Computation
The Structure and Construction of the Machine
Computer Control System
16: Conclusion
The Cosmos as a Celestial Machine
A Classification of Astronomical Machines
When and Where
Appendix A
Positional Astronomy
On the Measure of Time
Equation of Time
The Julian Day
Elementary Astronomical Computations
Interpolation
The Computation of the Date of Easter
Algorithms for the Computation of Continued Fractions
Planetary Orbits
Appendix B
Credits of the Illustrations
References
Index
