Exploring the Heavens

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 808, 21 January 1955, Page 12

Exploring the Heavens

THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY, by Giorgio Abetti, with a foreword by the Astronomer Royal; Sidgwick and Jackson, English pe ee, ) epee

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I. L.

Thomsen

N an almost artificial age of machines and crowded cities it is seldom realised how important the appearance of the heavens were to our earlier ancestors. The daily motion of the sun across the sky, the changing phases of the moon, and the wanderings of the planets among the fixed stars were matters of curious wonder; but the seemingly eternal nature of the stars has left a profound impression on the mental structure of the human race. At a very early stage the use of the heavens as indicators for the passage of the day and night, as well as the greater cycles of the month and year, was well appreciated. From this we defive our present divisions of the day as well as the calendar. The sun, moon and stars are still our final appeal, with

all the technical refinements which can be assembled today, for telling the time. Seasonal variations with all their effects on nature were also noted to occur with the appearance of certain night constellations. To early peoples this indicated the effect of the heavens on the earth. Was it not possible that they also had strange effects on individuals, kings and empires? So was born the pursuit of astrology. Although astrology is not recognised among the present-day sciences, it survived among learned men right up to the 17th Century. Astronomy owes a considerable amount to astrology for maintaining an interest in the heavens during periods when no_ observations would otherwise have been made, Apart from these apparently practical aspects of time measurement and prognostication, astronomy has had a profound effect throughout the ages on religious and philosophic thought. For these aspects as well as the pursuit of pure physical knowledge, the subject stimulates much interest among many types of individual. Our present knowledge of the universe has been achieved through the struggles and endeavours of many individuals. From this standpoint, astronomy has a very human story to tell, and this

is fundamentally the aim of Abetti. Commencing from what he calls "Primeval Times," he tells the fascinating story of ancient astronomical achievement, until he arrives at that most glorious period of Brahe, Kepler, Galileo and Newton, Thereafter is the history of modern astronomy. Astronomical history is so vast a subject that it would be impossible to cover every detail in 328 pages, but there is no doubt that Abetti has recorded the essential things in a very able manner. As an Italian ‘astrophysicist of high international repute, it is but natural that he makes a little stress, although not obtrusively, on Italian astronomy, For this we should be grateful, for we know. that when he tells us of the experience | of looking through Galileo’s own telescopes, he is speaking with authority Whatever may be lacking in his history is more than balanced by the recording of material not found in other books. Although it would seem that little has been lost in the translation from the Italian, there are a few occasions when the style does not seem to flow freely for easy reading. On the other hand, much is often gained from a direct relating of facts, rather than any flowery embellishments. Students of astronomy will find the work of more than passing value for the short biographies of many of the famous astronomers. In this respect the book is a multum in parvo reference’ work. Many items in the development of the science, which are not well known, make their appearance in these life histories. One also feels that Abetti is a very kindly man. Incidents which have included the fiercest emotions of the human spirit are dealt with in mellow style. It is no criticism of the author to say that the story of present-day astronomy is presented sketchily, If anyone can give a complete picture it is difficult to say, but he has given an indication of modern and future trends by outlining the organisation of the International Astronomical Union. In this particular edition, the reader will appreciate the wonderful plates of photographs taken with the largest instruments, although they do not have any direct relation to the text. Printing and production of the whole work are excellent.