The Story of Helium and the Birth of Astrophysics (Astronomers' Universe) - Softcover

Nath, Biman B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1461453623 ISBN 13: 9781461453628

Publisher: Springer, 2012

Synopsis

This fascinating chronicle of the epoch-making discovery of helium explains why it also marked the birth of a new branch of science called ‘astrophysics’, and corrects the many historiographical misinterpretations through revealing personal accounts.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Biman Nath
The Story of Helium and the Birth of Astrophysics

Helium was the first element ever discovered by astronomers. Its presence was first indicated in the Sun and not on Earth. Further, its discovery marked the birth of the new science of astrophysics.

However, it turns out that the events leading to the discovery of helium have been rather misrepresented in books, journals, and even encyclopedias. The usual story about its joint discovery during a solar eclipse in 1868 by French astronomer Pierre Janssen and late in England by Norman Lockyer, is far from the truth. Janssen never mentioned any new spectral line in his reports.

The actual story turns out to be as dramatic as in fiction. This book tells the story without jargon, using the words of the scientists themselves (from their letters and reports), and rescues the real story from the backwaters of history.

About the Author:

Biman Nath studied physics at the University of Delhi, India and received his Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Maryland, College Park, in the United States. He is currently at the Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, India. His research focuses on the interaction of gas with galaxies and its implications for the evolution of galaxies and diffuse gas in the universe. He is also interested in the popularization of science and writing fiction.

About this edition

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1461453623
• ISBN 13: 9781461453628
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 285