Front cover image for A history of physical theories of comets, from Aristotle to Whipple

A history of physical theories of comets, from Aristotle to Whipple

"The book describes the major physical theories of comets in the past two millennia. It demonstrates the evolution of ideas about the nature, position, motion and physical constitution of comets from Aristotle to Whipple. Unlike the available works on the history of comets, which either illustrate relatively short periods in the history of physical cosmetology or portray a landscape view without adequate details, the present study focuses on details of each theory. It also investigates the interaction between observational and mathematical astronomy, and the physical sciences in defining the properties of comets."--Jacket
Print Book, English, ©2008
Springer, [United States], ©2008
History
xiii, 275 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
9781402083228, 9781402083235, 140208322X, 1402083238
227026427
Aristotle's theory of comets
After Aristotle
From Brahe to Newton
Comets in Newtonian physics
After Newton
Non-Newtonian theories of comets
Comets in the Laplacian cosmos
Comets in the Post-Laplacian era