Discovering the Expanding Universe [Hardcover]

This book explores the history of the discovery of the expanding universe, one of the most exciting exploits in astronomy.The discovery of the expanding universe is one of the most exciting exploits in astronomy. This book explores its development from Einstein, through to Lema?tre, Hubble and Humason. It is of interest to scientists, students, and all those interested in the history of astronomy and cosmology.The discovery of the expanding universe is one of the most exciting exploits in astronomy. This book explores its development from Einstein, through to Lema?tre, Hubble and Humason. It is of interest to scientists, students, and all those interested in the history of astronomy and cosmology.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?tres discovery of the expanding universe in 1927 and his suggestion of a Big Bang origin, to Hubbles contribution of 1929 and the subsequent years when Hubble and Humason provided the essential observations for further developing modern cosmology, and finally to Einsteins 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.Acknowledgments; Foreword; 1. Introduction; 2. Cosmological concepts at the end of the Middle Ages; 3. Nebulae as a new astronomical phenomenon; 4. On the construction of the Heavens; 5. Island universes turn into astronomical facts: a universe of galaxies; 6. The early cosmology of Einstein and de Sitter; 7. The dynamical universe of Friedmann; 8. Redshifts: how to reconcile Slipher and de Sitter?; 9. Lema?tre discoverl#!