The New Astronomy

ISBN 10: 1402037236 / ISBN 13: 9781402037238

Published by Springer, 2005

About this Item

pp. xvi + 328 Illus.

Seller Inventory # 5674190

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The New Astronomy
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1402037236
• ISBN 13: 9781402037238
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

This is an unusual book, combining as it does papers on astrobiology, history of astronomy and sundials, but―after all―Woody Sullivan is an unusual man. In late 2003 I spent two fruitful and enjoyable months in the Astronomy Department at the University of Washington (UW) working on archival material accumulated over the decades by Woody, for a book we will co-author with Jessica Chapman on the early development of Australian astronomy. The only serious intellectual distraction I faced during this period was planning for an IAU colloquium on transits of Venus scheduled for June 2004 in England, where I was down to present the ‘Cook’ paper. I knew Woody was also interested in transits (and, indeed, anything remotely connected with shadows―see his paper on page 3), and in discussing the Preston meeting with him it transpired that his 60th birthday was timed to occur just one week later. This was where the seed of ‘Woodfest’ began to germinate. Why not invite friends and colleagues to join Woody in Seattle and celebrate this proud event? I put the idea to Woody and others at UW, they liked it, and ‘Woodfest’ was born.

From the Back Cover

This unique work celebrates the 60th birthday of Professor Woodruff Sullivan III (University of Washington, Seattle). The ‘Woodfest’ conference attracted some of the world’s leading astrobiologists and historians of astronomy, so it is no surprise this book provides a collection of key papers and reviews on the history of astronomy, astrobiology and sundials.

The emphasis on radio astronomy in the historical papers is a fitting reminder that Woody is widely acknowledged as the world’s leading authority in this field. But there are also papers on astrobiology, which reflect his intimate involvement in this exciting multidisciplinary field. The papers on sundials reveal another passion and his quest to make Seattle the sundial capital of North America!

This book will appeal to professional and amateur astronomers, and is a tribute to one of the world’s most remarkable astronomers.