
Chapter I. - Astronomy Before Kepler.
Chapter II. - Early Life of Kepler.
Chapter III. - Tycho Brahe.
Chapter IV. - Kepler Joins Tycho.
Chapter V. - Kepler’s Laws.
Figures Explanatory of Kepler’s Theory of the Motion of Mars.
Chapter VI. - Closing Years.
Appendix I. - List of Dates.
Appendix II. - Bibliography.
Glossary.
From the earliest whispers of heliocentrism in ancient Greece to the painstaking star‑catalogues of medieval scholars, this narrative traces the slow, uneven march of astronomical thought. It brings to life the forgotten contributions of Arab philosophers, the meticulous tables of Alfonso X, and the bold experiments of Ulugh Beg, showing how each generation nudged the heavens a little farther from the Earth‑centric view. The story weaves together the cultural and scientific currents that kept the quest for a true cosmic map alive across centuries.
When Nicolaus Copernicus steps onto the stage, his daring proposal to let the Earth itself revolve ignites a fresh wave of optimism—and controversy. The book follows his painstaking effort to strip away dozens of cumbersome epicycles, revealing both his brilliant insights and the stubborn remnants of old doctrines that still held him back. Listeners will feel the tension between tradition and innovation that set the scene for the revolutionary breakthroughs that await in the next chapter of the saga.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (102K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Clare Boothby, Ben Beasley and PG Distributed Proofreaders
Release date
2004-05-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1865–1923
Best known as a British astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, he also wrote lively popular books that helped bring the history of astronomy to general readers. His work moved easily between careful observation, public education, and biography.
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