Allan Chapman - Comets, cosmology and the Big Bang : a history of astronomy from Edmond Halley to Edwin Hubble 1700-2000

Table of Contents

Allan Chapman is a polymath, celebrated for his superb lectures on astronomical history. This engrossing book contains an immense amount of recondite information. His lively writing retains the flavour of his lectures, and will enlighten, fascinate and entertain anyone interested in science and its social context.

Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal

A fascinating narrative, full of delightful anecdotes, giving a very readable overview of astronomy and our understanding of the universe.

Martin Grossel, Emeritus Student in Organic Chemistry, Christ Church, Oxford, and Emeritus Fellow in Organic Chemistry, University of Southampton

Allan Chapman writes with clarity and energy in a manner designed to both inform the general reader and stimulate thought. Engagingly written, and with great authority, he combines a manageable level of detail regarding this vast subject, with his own personal insights and experiences.

His work enables the reader to both grapple with the complex historical big picture of unfolding ideas over the centuries, while also appreciating the significant impact and discoveries of individual pioneers in the field. Allan is not afraid to offer challenging personal insights and raises important questions for the reader to consider. This is an engaging, detailed, informative and thought-provoking book.

Martyn Whittock, historian, teacher, and writer

Also by Allan Chapman:

Slaying the Dragons: Destroying Myths in the History of Science and Faith

Stargazers: Copernicus, Galileo, the Telescope and the Church

Physicians, Plagues and Progress: The History of Western Medicine from Antiquity to Antibiotics

Text copyright 2018 Allan Chapman

This edition copyright 2018 Lion Hudson IP Limited

The right of Allan Chapman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by

Lion Hudson Limited

Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Business Park

Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 8DR, England

www.lionhudson.com

ISBN 9780 7459 8031 7

e-ISBN 9780 7459 8030 0

First edition 2018

Acknowledgments

Cover image: gameover / Alamy

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

To Rachel: Wife, Scholar, and Best Friend

CONTENTS

A s with my Stargazers of 2014, there are many people who have, in various ways, encouraged and assisted me over several decades with the research that lies behind this book; they are too numerous to list here, but I am extremely grateful to them all. Especial thanks, however, are due to my late friend Peter Hingley, Royal Astronomical Society Librarian, and my still very active friend Tony Simcock, Emeritus Archivist of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, for their unfailingly generous help with all the queries I have thrown in their direction; Kevin Kilburn, of the Manchester Astronomical Society, for his planetary computing skills; my late good friend Sir Patrick Moore, CBE, FRS, for his inspiration from childhood onwards; Jane Fletcher and the BBC Sky at Night team; and Martin Durkin, Director of WAG TV. Nor can I forget the inspiration I have received from the late Colin Ronan and Andrew Murray, who (along with Patrick Moore), at RAS Club dinners, knew how to combine erudition and stimulating conversation with good fellowship: a tradition carried on by Professor Mike Edmunds, Charlie Barclay, and many present-day Club members.

Institutionally, I am grateful for the skills, assistance, and great kindness of librarian friends in Wadham College (Tim Kirtley and Francesca Heaney), Christ Church (Dr Cristina Neagu, Alina Nachescu, Dr Judith Curthoys, Angela Edward, and the late Janet McMullin), the Museum of the History of Science, (Dr Lee Macdonald), in the History Faculty Library, and in the Bodleian Library, all in Oxford; and in the Royal Society, the Royal Astronomical Society (Dr Sian Prosser), the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Manchester Central and Salford City Libraries, and numerous other institutions. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude to the Curators of the Collections of the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford (especially the late Francis R. Maddison, Gerard LEstrange Turner, and John D. North, who taught me a great deal about how to examine and to learn from historical scientific artefacts), and of the National Maritime Museum (in particular the late Commander Derek Howse RN). And I would also like to acknowledge my debt to Lancaster University, where I took my first degree, in History, and in particular to Professors Robert Fox and John Hedley Brooke, my inspiring teachers.

I am, too, greatly indebted to the Warden and Fellows, and the Chapel, of Wadham College, Oxford, and to the Dean, Chapter, and Governing Body of Christ Church, Oxford, for their friendship, encouragement, intellectual and spiritual support, and provision of academic sanctuary. I owe a special debt to my scientist friend Dr Martin Grossel of Christ Church, Oxford, for kindly taking the time in his busy life to read through and comment on my manuscript, although any remaining errors are, I emphasize, entirely my own. Likewise, I am grateful to friends and clergy at my native parish churches of St Thomas and St Anne, Clifton, Salford, Lancashire, for their interest and prayers over most of my life.

As I always learn so much from my research students, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to them; and also to the members of the numerous astronomical and scientific societies to which I am invited to lecture, especially the Astronomical Societies of Salford, Lancashire (in particular Ken Irving), the Preston and District, Lancashire, and the Mexborough and Swinton, Yorkshire; the Society for the History of Astronomy, and the William Herschel Society, all of which I have the honour of serving as Honorary President. I always maintain that there is nothing like teaching and lecturing before live audiences to oblige one to master ones ideas thoroughly and present them with lucidity, and to defend oneself when challenged.

My sincere thanks go to Ali Hull, formerly of Lion Hudson, who commissioned this book, for all her advice and encouragement over the years we have worked together, and for her sensitive efficiency in weeding out the inevitable errors and infelicities of style. At Lion Hudson thanks are also due to Suzanne Wilson-Higgins and Jessica Tinker for their help and encouragement, and to Joy Tibbs, Kirsten Etheridge, Jacqui Crawford, and Clair Lansley for their skill in turning my manuscript into a beautiful book. I am indebted to my friend Bob Marriott, who compiled the index and also drew my attention to several small errors of fact, which were subsequently corrected.

But most of all, I am hugely indebted to my wife, Rachel, who has worked alongside me at every stage of this book, for her manifold skills, judgment, encouragement, efficiency, and infinite patience in coping with a husband whose office and administrative skills come a poor second to those of a confused chimpanzee. Rachel routinely rescues me from electronic muddles and helps search for misplaced books and research notes with great forbearance. While I possess an excellent memory for facts and information, I can never remember where I have put something. Once again, she has typed this book from my original fountain-pen-written manuscript, checked and edited it, and has made the whole process of writing this work immeasurably easier than it would otherwise have been.