Overview

This is the missing chapter in the history of astronomy, brilliantly told by Peter Aughton, author of 'Endeavour'. It lies between the work of Galileo and Newton and is a chapter that belongs to England. Most people would name the likes of Newton and Edmond Halley as the greatest British astronomers, but both men drew on the works of Jeremiah Horrocks. In the period before the English Civil War, Horrocks was the greatest astronomer in the kingdom. He was the first man to see the image of Venus on the face of the Sun. He knew the positions and motions of the planets more accurately than any person of his time. He was the first to appreciate the true scale of the solar system and the first to formulate a valid theory for the wanderings of the moon. Yet he was not an elderly grey-bearded sage, he was a young man living in provincial obscurity, full of youth and vitality, who on his death had barely come of age, but who left a great scientific legacy. Peter Aughton's scientific and narrative skills vividly describe the story of the early discoveries in astronomy and ably illustrate Horrocks's importance.

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9780297847212

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'This book throws a light on Horrocks' -- Tim Radford THE GUARDIAN A fascinating new book.' -- Michael Hanlon DAILY MAIL 'He relates the story of Horrocks's life in a clear if businesslike style.' -- Steve King THE SPECTATOR 'Peter Aughton's interesting book' -- Andrew Crumey SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY 'charmingly done with no stone left unturned.' -- Michael Hoskins THE TABLET 'tells, effectively and unpretentiously a story which has everything: entertainment and instruction, drama and discovery, poignancy and importance.' -- Felipe Fernandez Armesto THE TIMES 'it is charmingly done, with no stone left unturned.' -- Michael Hoskins THE TABLET

A transit of Venus occurs when the planet passes between the Earth and the Sun so that its path is traced out against the face of the Sun. While it has no real significance and constitutes merely a coincidence of relative positions, it is, like eclipses, a notable astronomical event - and was just predicted by Jeremiah Horrock. He then observed the occurrence on November 24 1639. Though the measurement of distance between Sun and Earth he made from his observation proved somewhat inaccurate, he played a significant part in the development of astronomy particularly in understanding the mechanics of the solar system. This biography blends science and history, effectively showing how the efforts of such, largely overlooked, figures played a pivotal role in our developing understanding of the universe. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Peter Aughton lives in Bristol. He lectures at the University of the West of England and in the 1970s worked on the Concorde supersonic airliner. He is an Associate Fellow of the Institute for Mathematics. He is married with two children.

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