Letters on Astronomy : in which the Elements of the Science are Familiarly Explained in Connection with Biographical Sketches of the Most Eminent Astronomers

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Olmsted, Denison, 1791-1859

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Letters on Astronomy" by Denison Olmsted is a scientific publication written in the early 19th century. The work aims to make the complex subject of astronomy accessible to a general audience, especially through its friendly letters format infused with biographical sketches of notable astronomers. It is likely intended for both educational purposes and personal enlightenment, appealing to those curious about the universe and its wonders. The opening of "Letters on Astronomy" sets a conversational tone, as the author addresses a friend who expressed a desire to learn more about the subject but felt intimidated by its technical jargon. Olmsted reveals that he aims to compose a work that is clear yet comprehensive, weaving in fascinating historical anecdotes about significant figures in astronomy, from ancient civilizations to contemporaries like Copernicus and Newton. He emphasizes that while astronomy can be complex, the foundational principles are straightforward and can offer great intellectual stimulation and beauty to those willing to explore them. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Preface

Introductory observations

Doctrine of the sphere

Astronomical instruments; telescope

Observatories

Time and the calendar

Figure of the earth

Diurnal revolution

Parallax and refraction

The sun

Annual revolution; seasons

Laws of motion

Terrestrial gravity

Sir Isaac Newton; universal gravitation; figure of the earth's orbit; precession of the equinoxes

The moon

The moon; phases; harvest moon; librations

Moon's orbit; her irregularities

Eclipses

Longitude; tides

Planets; Mercury and Venus

Superior planets: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus

Copernicus; Galileo

Saturn; Uranus; asteroids

The planetary motions; Kepler's laws; Kepler

Comets

Meteoric showers

Fixed stars

System of the world

Natural theology

Recent discoveries.

Credits:

Produced by David Starner, Mark Young and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 46.6 (College-level). Difficult to read.

Release date is 2012-07-15