Most historians of astronomy devote themselves to planetary theory. In the hope of encouraging the history of stellar astronomy, Dr Hoskin has brought together studies published over the years in a variety of places, along with material appearing here for the first time.

Michael Hoskin is Past President of the History of Astronomy Commission of the International Astronomical Union, and editor of Journal for the History of Astronomy.

"... possibly the most comprehensive and definitive treatise extant on the extraordinarily important subject of the history of stellar astronomy ... superb ..." - Richard Berendzen

INTRODUCTION: Principles and Methods

SECTION A: The Emerging Science of the Stars
1. An Overview
2. Novae and Variables from Tycho to Bullialdus
3. Hooke, Bradley and the Aberration of Light
4. Goodricke, Pigott and the Quest for Variable Stars
5. Herschel's Determination of the Solar Apex

SECTION B: A Century of Speculative Cosmologies
1. Introduction
2. Newton, Providence and the Universe of Stars
3. The Cosmology of Thomas Wright of Durham
4. The Cosmology of J. H. Lambert

SECTION C: The Riddle of the Nebulae
1. William Herschel's Early Investigations of Nebulae
2. The Nebulae from Herschel to Huggins
3. Island Universes: An Overview
4. Ritchey, Curtis and the Discovery of Novae in Spiral Nebulae
5. The 'Great Debate': What Really Happened

Paperback, 193pp, illustrated £15/$30 including postage

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