Lavishly illustrated volume revealing the intricacies of a 1742 map of
the cosmos.
The expansive and intricate Atlas Coelestis, created by Johann
Doppelmayr in 1742, set out to record everything known about astronomy
at the time, covering constellations, planets, moons, comets, and more,
all rendered in exquisite detail. Through stunning illustrations,
historical notes, and scientific explanations, Phenomena
contextualizes Doppelmayr's atlas and creates a spectacular handbook to
the heavens.
Phenomena begins by introducing Doppelmayr's life and work, placing
his extraordinary cosmic atlas in the context of discoveries made in the
Renaissance and Enlightenment and highlighting the significance of its
publication. This oversized book presents thirty beautifully illustrated
and richly annotated plates, covering all the fundamentals of
astronomy--from the dimensions of the solar system to the phases of the
moon and the courses of comets. Each plate is accompanied by expert
analysis from astronomer Giles Sparrow, who deftly presents Doppelmayr's
references and cosmological work to a modern audience. Each plate is
carefully deconstructed, isolating key stars, planets, orbits, and moons
for in-depth exploration. A conclusion reflects on the development of
astronomy since the publication of the Atlas and traces the course of
the science up to the present day. Following the conclusion is a
timeline of key discoveries from ancient times onward along with short
biographies of the key players in this history.
