The New Astronomy by Samuel Pierpont Langley

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BeckyWTX
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Joined: November 10th, 2020, 5:07 pm
Location: Texas USA

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64577

The New Astronomy by Samuel Pierpont Langley (1834-1906), published 1888.

Samuel P. Langley was an American astronomer, physicist, inventor of the bolometer and aviation pioneer. He was the third Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; also a professor of astronomy at the University of Pittsburg where he was director of the Allegheny Observatory. In 1886, Langley received the inaugural Henry Draper Medal from the National Academy of Science for his contributions to solar physics.
An early aviation pioneer, NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton VA; Langley Air Force Base; the Langley Gold Medal by the Smithsonian Institution; Mt. Langley in the Sierra Nevada; buildings at the University of Pittsburg, are just a part of his legacy.

The book is a delightful quick read, aimed to stir the imaginations of the general public rather than to the academia of the day. It contains journal excerpts from witnesses of some of the grand astronomical stargazing events in 19th century America. The artwork used is well described, not detracting from becoming an audiobook.

The New Astronomy was just released/posted 16 Feb 2021 by the Gutenberg Project.
BeckyWTX
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