The astronomical observations of William Herschel (1738–1822) made him question the accepted model of the clockwork universe. This volume explains the development of Herschel's thoughts on what he called 'the construction of the heavens' and reprints his principal papers on this subject. The preliminary chapters provide an introduction to Herschel, including his unusual path to astronomy, the discovery of Uranus and his work on the evolution of stellar clusters, which eventually led him to challenge the unchanging Newtonian universe. The second half of the text comprises eight of Herschel's key papers on what we today would call cosmology, representing his progress between 1783 and 1814, fully annotated with historical notes and modern astrophysical explanations. Ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the history of science and in astronomy, this volume explains Herschel's pivotal role in the transformation from the clockwork universe to the 'biological' universe of modern astronomy.
• Uses a two-part structure to induct the reader into Herschel's ideas before introducing his original papers • Reproduces eight of Herschel's papers, fully annotated with historical notes and modern astrophysical perspectives • Written by the world's foremost Herschel historian, drawing from sources unavailable fifty years ago
Contents
Introduction; Part I. Herschel's Exploration of the Cosmos: 1. The making of an astronomer; 2. Our neighbours among the stars; 3. The riddle of the nebulae: true nebulosity?; 4. The riddle of the nebulae: true nebulosity rejected; 5. The riddle of the nebulae: true nebulosity confirmed; 6. Retrospect: Herschel and the construction of the heavens; Part II. Herschel's Cosmological Papers in Philosophical Transactions: 7. 1783: 'On the proper motion of the sun and solar system'; 8. 1784: 'Observations tending to investigate the construction of the heavens'; 9. 1785: 'On the construction of the heavens'; 10. 1789: 'Remarks on the construction of the heavens'; 11. 1791: 'On nebulous stars'; 12. 1802: 'Remarks on the construction of the heavens'; 13. 1811: 'Observations relating to the construction of the heavens'; 14. 1814: 'Observations relating to the sidereal part of the heavens'; Index.
Review
'This highly recommended book stands alone as an outstanding academic summary of Herschel's most important cosmological achievements.' Astronomy Now
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