Flamsteed's Stars: New Perspectives on the Life and Work of the First Astronomer Royal, 1646-1719

1997 Boydell hardcover edition. Light reading wear else very good condition. From the dustjacket: John Flamsteed played a leading role in maintaining the public reputation of English astronomy for nearly half a century, from his appointment as ‘astronomical observator’ to Charles II and first director of the new Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1675 until his death on the last day of 1719. The innovative instruments which he installed at the Observatory enabled him to plot the movements of the heavenly bodies with unprecedented accuracy. He was also in constant correspondence with other astronomers, participating in the controversies of five successive reigns, including a lengthy rivalry with Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley reflected in the complex publishing history of his own Historia Coelestis. The papers collected in this book restore Flamsteed to centre-stage in Restoration science. They reflect the multi-faceted nature of his achievements as astronomer, mathematician, instrument maker and writer on optics, as well as discussing more personal issues such as his relations with the Royal Society, his pursuit of professional recognition, and the friction between him and his eventual successor Halley. CONTENTS Foreword by Richard Ormond, Director of the National Maritime Museum Introduction: the King's 'Astronomical Observator' by Jim Bennett Flamsteed's Career in Astronomy: Nobility, Morality and Public Utility by Mordechai Feingold Astronomy and Strife: John Flamsteed and the Royal Society by Frances Willmoth Models for the Practice of Astronomy: Flamsteed, Horrocks and Tycho by Adrian Johns Flamsteed's Optics and the Identity of the Astronomical Observer by Hester Higton Equipping an Observatory: Flamsteed and Molyneux Discuss an Astronomical Quadrant by Rob Iliffe Mathematical Characters: Flamsteed and Christ's Hospital Royal Mathematical School by Ian G. Stewart 'Professor' John Flamsteed by Alan Cook Edmond Halley and John Flamsteed at the Royal Observatory by Owen Gingerich A Unique Copy of Flamsteed's Historia Coelestis (1712) by William J. Ashworth 'Labour harder than thrashing': John Flamsteed, Property and Intellectual Labour in Nineteenth-Century England by Adam Perkins The Flamsteed Papers in the Archives of the Royal Greenwich Observatory A Summary Catalogue of Flamsteed's Papers in the Royal Greenwich Observatory Archives compiled by Frances Willmoth. …