Reflections on the Astronomy of Glasgow

A story of some 500 years

David Clarke

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Year: 2013
• Topic: History
• eBook ISBN:
  9780748678914
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

How Astronomy contributed to the educational enlightenment of Glasgow, to its society and to its commerce The words 'Astronomy' and 'Glasgow' seem an incongruous juxtaposition, and yet the two are closely linked over 500 years of history. This is a tale of enlightenment and scientific progress at both institutional and public levels. Combined with the ambitions of civic commerce, it is a story populated with noteworthy personalities and intense rivalries. It is remarkable to realise that the first Astronomy teaching in the Glasgow 'Colledge' presented an Earth-centred Universe, prior to the Copernican revolution of the mid sixteenth Century. Glasgow was later known astronomically for the telescope observations of sunspots made by Wilson in the 1760s, but less well known are the ideas related to mono-chromaticity within light, to dew point and hoar frost, and Herschel's discovery of infra-red energy in solar radiation by application of Glasgow-made thermometers. This engrossing and entertaining scientific history includes the story of Glasgow's 'Big Bang' of 1863, the controversy over 'Astronomer Royal for Scotland' and a historical survey of the eight observatories that once populated Glasgow. David Clarke brings us a complex weave of science and accompanying social history in this unique and fascinating work. Key Features: A comprehensive narrative of 500+ years of Glasgow's connections with Astronomy, the story being unique and non-comparable with any other city around the worldContributions made to Astronomy directly by Glasgow University, and new ideas developed there and picked up by others outside its walls are relatedProvides short biographies of colourful contributors to the Astronomical scene in GlasgowPresents the history, architecture and structures of eight Glasgow observatoriesGives insight on social aspects of Astronomy within Glasgow, its relationships with commerce, and the upsurge of interests in Astronomy by the general public

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Colour Plates
• Chapter 1 Glasgow Astronomy
• Chapter 2 Some Early Astronomy
• Chapter 3 Establishing Astronomy
• Chapter 4 The Wilsons
• Chapter 5 The Early Nineteenth Century
• Chapter 6 A Professor of Eloquence
• Chapter 7 The Glory of Glasgow
• Chapter 8 Time is of the Essence
• Chapter 9 The Turn of the Century
• Chapter 10 The Astronomical Society of Glasgow
• Chapter 11 University Gardens
• Chapter 12 To the New Millennium
• Figures
• Colour Plates
• Index