Mapping the Heavens

Peter Whitfield

ISBN 10: 0712352651 / ISBN 13: 9780712352659

Published by British Library, 2018

About this Item

Presenting examples ranging from ancient Egyptian tomb paintings, through medieval diagrams of the cosmic sphere and 18th-century celestial atlases to images of nebulae captured by NASA?s Spitzer Space Telescope, this richly illustrated book traces the history of astronomy through the various ways in which the heavens and their mysteries have been observed, imagined and depicted, exploring both the scientific and mythological elements in the development of celestial maps.  .

Seller Inventory # 516779

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mapping the Heavens
• Publisher: British Library
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0712352651
• ISBN 13: 9780712352659
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Throughout history people have sought ways in which to map the heavens. From the sources of mathematics and mythology sprang the classic star chart, the finest examples of which are both scientific documents and works of art. In this beautifully illustrated book, Peter Whitfield reveals some of the ways in which the structure of the universe has been conceived, explained and depicted. With examples ranging from the Stone Age to the Space Age ancient observatories, the angelic visions of Dante, images from the Copernican revolution, the rationalized heavens of Isaac Newton, and modern deep space technology he offers a challenging exploration of the tension between rigorous scientific knowledge and the continuing search for cause, certainty and harmony in the universe. This new edition is updated to include a wider range of stunning maps of the skies in full colour, including imagery from the latest voyages of space exploration.

About the Author

Peter Whitfield is an independent scholar and leading expert in map history and exploration. His other books include Charting the Oceans and London: A Life in Maps.