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The Resource Chasing Venus : the race to measure the heavens, Andrea Wulf, (electronic resource)

Chasing Venus : the race to measure the heavens, Andrea Wulf, (electronic resource)

Creator
Summary
  • "The author of the highly acclaimed Founding Gardeners now gives us an enlightening chronicle of the first truly international scientific endeavor--the eighteenth-century quest to observe the transit of Venus and measure the solar system. On June 6, 1761, the world paused to observe a momentous occasion: the first transit of Venus between the earth and the sun in more than a century. Through that observation, astronomers could calculate the size of the solar system--but only if the transit could be viewed at the same time from many locations. Overcoming incredible odds and political strife, astronomers from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and the American colonies set up observatories in remote corners of the world only to have their efforts thwarted by unpredictable weather and warring armies. Fortunately, transits of Venus occur in pairs: eight years later, the scientists were given a second chance to get it right. Chasing Venus brings to life this extraordinary endeavor: the personalities of eighteenth-century astronomy, the collaborations, discoveries, personal rivalries, volatile international politics, and the race to be first to measure the distances between the planets"--Provided by publisher
  • "On June 6, 1761, the world paused to observe a momentous occasion: the first transit of Venus between the Earth and the sun in more than a century. Through that observation, astronomers could calculate the size of the solar system--but only if the transit could be viewed at the same time from many locations. Overcoming incredible odds and political strife, astronomers from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and the American colonies set up observatories in remote corners of the world only to have their efforts thwarted by unpredictable weather and warring armies. Fortunately, transits of Venus occur in pairs: eight years later, the scientists were given a second chance to get it right. Chasing Venus brings to life this extraordinary endeavor: the personalities of eighteenth-century astronomy, the collaborations, discoveries, personal rivalries, volatile international politics, and the race to be first to measure the distances between the planets"--Provided by publisher
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
1st American ed.
Extent
1 online resource (xxvi, 304 p.)
Note
Includes index
Contents
  • The gauntlet
  • Transit 1761. Call to action ; The French are first ; Britain enters the race ; To Siberia ; Getting ready for Venus ; Day of transit, 6 June 1761 ; How far to the sun?
  • Transit 1769. A second change ; Russia enters the race ; The most daring voyage of all ; Scandinavia, or, The Land of the Midnight Sun ; The North American continent ; Racing to the four corners of the globe ; Day of transit, 3 June 1769 ; After the transit
  • A new dawn
  • List of observers, 1761
  • List of observers, 1769
Isbn
9780307958617
Link
Instance
Label
Chasing Venus : the race to measure the heavens
Title
Chasing Venus
Title remainder
the race to measure the heavens
Statement of responsibility
Andrea Wulf
Creator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
  • "The author of the highly acclaimed Founding Gardeners now gives us an enlightening chronicle of the first truly international scientific endeavor--the eighteenth-century quest to observe the transit of Venus and measure the solar system. On June 6, 1761, the world paused to observe a momentous occasion: the first transit of Venus between the earth and the sun in more than a century. Through that observation, astronomers could calculate the size of the solar system--but only if the transit could be viewed at the same time from many locations. Overcoming incredible odds and political strife, astronomers from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and the American colonies set up observatories in remote corners of the world only to have their efforts thwarted by unpredictable weather and warring armies. Fortunately, transits of Venus occur in pairs: eight years later, the scientists were given a second chance to get it right. Chasing Venus brings to life this extraordinary endeavor: the personalities of eighteenth-century astronomy, the collaborations, discoveries, personal rivalries, volatile international politics, and the race to be first to measure the distances between the planets"--Provided by publisher
  • "On June 6, 1761, the world paused to observe a momentous occasion: the first transit of Venus between the Earth and the sun in more than a century. Through that observation, astronomers could calculate the size of the solar system--but only if the transit could be viewed at the same time from many locations. Overcoming incredible odds and political strife, astronomers from Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden, and the American colonies set up observatories in remote corners of the world only to have their efforts thwarted by unpredictable weather and warring armies. Fortunately, transits of Venus occur in pairs: eight years later, the scientists were given a second chance to get it right. Chasing Venus brings to life this extraordinary endeavor: the personalities of eighteenth-century astronomy, the collaborations, discoveries, personal rivalries, volatile international politics, and the race to be first to measure the distances between the planets"--Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
TEFOD
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Wulf, Andrea
Dewey number
523.9/2
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • maps
Index
index present
LC call number
QB205.A2
LC item number
W85 2012eb
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
dictionaries
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Geodetic astronomy
  • Astronomy
  • SCIENCE / Astronomy
  • SCIENCE / History
  • HISTORY / Expeditions & Discoveries
  • Venus (Planet)
Label
Chasing Venus : the race to measure the heavens, Andrea Wulf, (electronic resource)
Link
Instantiates
Publication
Note
Includes index
Antecedent source
unknown
Color
multicolored
Contents
The gauntlet -- Transit 1761. Call to action ; The French are first ; Britain enters the race ; To Siberia ; Getting ready for Venus ; Day of transit, 6 June 1761 ; How far to the sun? -- Transit 1769. A second change ; Russia enters the race ; The most daring voyage of all ; Scandinavia, or, The Land of the Midnight Sun ; The North American continent ; Racing to the four corners of the globe ; Day of transit, 3 June 1769 ; After the transit -- A new dawn -- List of observers, 1761 -- List of observers, 1769
Control code
ocn803366883
Dimensions
unknown
Edition
1st American ed.
Extent
1 online resource (xxvi, 304 p.)
File format
unknown
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780307958617
Isbn Type
(electronic bk.)
Level of compression
unknown
Other physical details
ill., maps.
Quality assurance targets
not applicable
Reformatting quality
unknown
Sound
unknown sound
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)803366883
Label
Chasing Venus : the race to measure the heavens, Andrea Wulf, (electronic resource)
Link
Publication
Note
Includes index
Antecedent source
unknown
Color
multicolored
Contents
The gauntlet -- Transit 1761. Call to action ; The French are first ; Britain enters the race ; To Siberia ; Getting ready for Venus ; Day of transit, 6 June 1761 ; How far to the sun? -- Transit 1769. A second change ; Russia enters the race ; The most daring voyage of all ; Scandinavia, or, The Land of the Midnight Sun ; The North American continent ; Racing to the four corners of the globe ; Day of transit, 3 June 1769 ; After the transit -- A new dawn -- List of observers, 1761 -- List of observers, 1769
Control code
ocn803366883
Dimensions
unknown
Edition
1st American ed.
Extent
1 online resource (xxvi, 304 p.)
File format
unknown
Form of item
online
Isbn
9780307958617
Isbn Type
(electronic bk.)
Level of compression
unknown
Other physical details
ill., maps.
Quality assurance targets
not applicable
Reformatting quality
unknown
Sound
unknown sound
Specific material designation
remote
System control number
(OCoLC)803366883

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