Bøger af William Sheehan

A leading historian of astronomy and a leading planetary scientist who works at the forefront of space exploration provide a comprehensive history of the solar system's most alluring planet beyond Earth. William Sheehan and Jim Bell chronicle how ancient watchers of the skies attended to Mars's red color and baffling movements, how three and a half centuries of telescopic observations added vistas and controversies around possible seas and continents and canals, and how the current era of exploration by flyby, orbiter, lander, and rover spacecraft have conjured for us the reality of a world of towering shield volcanoes, vast canyons, ancient dry riverbeds--and even possible evidence of past life. A unique collaboration between two authors on the forefront of Mars explorations, past and future, Discovering Mars provides an ambitious, detailed, and evocative account of humanity's enduring fascination with the Red Planet.

Using the "Parallel Lives" approach adopted by the Greek biographer Plutarch, noted historian of astronomy William Sheehan contrasts the lives and research careers of two famous astronomers, Percival Lowell and Edward Emerson Barnard. Drawing on vast archival materials and hitherto unpublished source materials, Sheehan documents in detail the contributions of these two late 19th and early 20th astronomers.Living at a time when controversies about Mars peaked, when great observatories were being built, and when research increasingly turned away from the Solar System toward the stellar and extra-galactic universe, these observers made spectacular contributions to astronomy. Their work still inspires, and continues in Perseverance rover's explorations of the surface of Mars carrying forward Lowell's dream of showing that Mars may once have been "the abode of life," and in Barnard's pioneering wide-angle photographs of the Milky Way which first showed the sweep, majesty and complexity of the Galaxy. The work of decades of research and writing, Sheehan has produced what is likely to become the definitive work on these two great astronomers. "Parallel Lives marks an important contribution to the history of astronomy. The book is masterful and inventive. William Sheehan could hardly have chosen two more compelling¿or contrasting¿personalities to analyze in this fascinating dual biography." - David Baron, author of American Eclipse and The Martians, and former Chair in Astrobiology at the Library of Congress."Sheehan has united scientific acumen, detailed historical research, penetrating insight into character, and narrative virtuosity¿and adapted it all to an ancient Greek model¿a remarkable achievement!"¿¿- Michael Armstrong, Assoc. Prof. Emeritus of Classics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva NY William Sheehan's many books include the authoritative biography The Immortal Fire Within: The Life and Work of Edward Emerson Barnard and (with Jim Bell) Discovering Mars: A History of Observation and Exploration of the Red Planet, which has been called the "gold standard of books on Mars" (Michio Kaku).

The Space Age Generation shares the lives and careers of a dozen men and women whose passion for science was sparked by an astounding era--the golden age of space science. These scientists, historians, and astronomers lived and participated in an amazing time that not only saw humans step foot on the Moon but also saw human-made spacecraft travel throughout our solar system.

Presenting a history of science, this book chronicles the intrepid explorations of scientists and adventurers who studied the transits of Venus in the quest for scientific understanding.

A beautifully illustrated, authoritative overview of humankind's fascination with the ringed planet Saturn.

In this up-to-date and beautifully illustrated volume, William Sheehan brings our understanding of the planet into clear focus. He deftly traces the history from the earliest observations right up to the most recent explorations using radar and spacecraft.

Celestial Shadows

This is a full-length biography of Edward Emerson Barnard, and tells the remarkable tale of endurance and achievement of one of the leading astronomers of the late nineteenth century. Beautifully illustrated throughout, it includes many photographs of comets and the Milky Way.

This book offers a rich introduction to the wonders of the Galaxy, in an up-to-date, scientifically informed style that appeals to both researchers and the general reader. Includes maps produced especially for this book by the master illustrator Julian Baum.