Astronomy

A concise yet thorough guide, this volume walks listeners through the evolution of astronomy from the ancient observations of Hipparchus to the cutting‑edge discoveries of the late nineteenth century. Written by respected scholars of the era, the opening sections weave a brief historical narrative that highlights how ideas about the heavens have shifted over centuries, setting the stage for a modern understanding of the sky.

The book then turns to the fundamentals of spherical and gravitational astronomy, explaining the principles that govern planetary motion and the tools astronomers now wield—from powerful reflectors to delicate spectroscopes. Subsequent chapters explore the Solar System’s planets and moons, followed by an overview of the sidereal heavens, all illustrated with plentiful diagrams, photographs, and maps drawn from the world’s leading observatories.