Although Galileo Galilei lived and died centuries ago, his story is more relevant to our lives than we might realize. Today we face enormous challenges such as climate change that are disregarded or questioned by those who fear that their implications will damage business profitability. Others posit a false dichotomy between religion and science in order to reject scientific evidence whose implications they fear. Galileo confronted this problem 400 years ago. His discoveries were based on observation and experiment. His telescopes revealed previously unknown planets, moons orbiting other planets, and other discoveries that essentially confirmed the Copernican universe that the Church had rejected as heretical because Church theologians insisted on a literal reading of the Bible. Even St. Augustine in the fifth century maintained that the Bible pertained to the realm of faith, not reason. But when Galileo argued essentially the same position before an ecclesiastical court in Rome, he was forbidden from publishing any more books. Livio's life of Galileo shows us how the great thinker made his discoveries about the heavens and also formulated fundamental laws of physics. As an astrophysicist, Livio brings insight into how Galileo reasoned his way to his conclusions, which we know today were accurate. Along with Newton, Galileo remains one of the two great figures at the dawn of the scientific revolution. He insisted on reaching the widest audience possible, publishing his work in Italian rather than Latin as had been the case until his time, when vernacular languages were rapidly replacing Latin throughout Europe. Galileo believed that every educated person should know science as well as literature. Did Galileo actually say at the end of his trial when he was forced to recant his discoveries, as legend has it, And still it moves, referring to the motion of the earth around the sun? Not likely, says Livio, but Galileo nonetheless remains an inspiration to scientists and those who value open-minded inquiry, which as Livio reminds us, remains threatened even today.

The career of astronomer from a woman astronomer's point of view.

The Story of Variable Stars is a book written by Leon Campbell that explores the fascinating world of variable stars. The book provides a comprehensive overview of these stars, which are stars that change in brightness over time. The author delves into the history of variable star research, from the early observations made by ancient astronomers to the modern-day techniques used by astrophysicists.Campbell also explores the different types of variable stars, including pulsating stars, eclipsing binaries, and cataclysmic variables. He explains the physics behind these phenomena and how they can be used to study the properties of stars and the universe as a whole.The book is written in a clear and accessible style, making it suitable for both amateur and professional astronomers. It includes numerous illustrations and diagrams to help readers understand the concepts and phenomena discussed.Overall, The Story of Variable Stars is a fascinating and informative book that provides a comprehensive overview of this important area of astronomy. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the study of stars and the universe.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.