The peripatetic astronomer : the life of Charles Piazzi Smyth
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The peripatetic astronomer : the life of Charles Piazzi Smyth
A. Hilger, c1988
- est.
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Note
Bibliography: p. 264-265
Includes indexes
Description and Table of Contents
Description
This biography of Charles Piazzi Smyth (1819-1900), the second Astronomer Royal for Scotland, tells of his wide-ranging interests and enthusiasms outside his specialist subject as well as his travels in the cause of astronomy. Piazzi Smyth is best remebered as the 'Father of Mountain Astronomy'; more than 130 years ago he recognised the importance for observational astronomy of placing telescopes at high altitudes and in 1856 he demonstrated the outstanding qualities of the Canary Islands - now home to the world's newest international observatory.
He also distinguished himself in other branches of physical astronomy and made major contributions to solar, atmospheric and laboratory spectroscopy. Piazzi Smyth's unpublished personal journals, covering the 40 years of his life as Astronomer Royal for Scotland, have formed the basis for this book. Many of the illustrations are taken from the journals and are in Piazzi Smyth's own hand, and some of his early photographic work is also included.
Table of Contents
Piazzi's godson. Astronomer Royal for Scotland. Professor of Practical Astronomy. Tenerife, a residence above the clouds. Visit to Pulkova and three cities in Russia. The metrology of the Great Pyramid. Pyramid facts and fancies. Munich opticians and a Bavarian Astronomer Royal. Spectroscopy in Sicily. Tribulations at home. A wet France and the rainband. Two expeditions to the high sun in Lisbon. Madeira, the ocean flower. The last expedition. Sun and clouds at Clova. Notes. Bibliography. Charles Piazzi Smyth's publications. Indexes.
by "Nielsen BookData"
