Discovering the Expanding Universe

The discovery of the expanding universe is one of the most exciting exploits in astronomy. This book explores its history, from the beginnings of modern cosmology with Einstein in 1917, through Lema tre's discovery of the expanding universe in 1927 and his suggestion of a Big Bang origin, to Hubble's contribution of 1929 and the subsequent years when Hubble and Humason provided the essential observations for further developing modern cosmology, and finally to Einstein's conversion to the expanding universe in 1931. As a prelude the book traces the evolution of some of the notions of modern cosmology from the late Middle Ages up to the final acceptance of the concept of galaxies in 1925. Written in non-technical language, with a mathematical appendix, the book will appeal to scientists, students, and anyone interested in the history of astronomy and cosmology.

Author: Harry Nussbaumer, Lydia Bieri
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 03/26/2009
Pages: 246
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.40lbs
Size: 9.70h x 6.80w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780521514842

Review Citation(s):
Choice 12/01/2009

About the Author
Nussbaumer, Harry: - Harry Nussbaumer is Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Astronomy, ETH Zurich.Bieri, Lydia: - Lydia Bieri is Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Harvard University.Sandage, Allan: - Allan Sandage is Astronomer Emeritus at the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Pasadena.