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Evolving Theories on the Origin of the Moon

  • Book
  • © 2019

Overview

Authors:
  1. Warren D. Cummings

    1. USRA, Columbia, USA

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  • Compiles extensive research material, including first-ever translations from German and Russian sources
  • Offers an in-depth history of the contributions made by key players in the field, such as the Lunar Science Institute
  • Demonstrates the symbiotic relationship between technological advancements and scientific knowledge

Part of the book series: Historical & Cultural Astronomy (HCA)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
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  2. Gaping at the Moon—18th and 19th Century Ideas on the Formation of Lunar Craters and Other Surface Features

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 1-17

  3. Lunar Observations and Speculations—From Gilbert to the Apollo Explorations

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 19-49

  4. Pre-Apollo Theories About the Origin of the Moon

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 51-75

  5. Exploring the Moon—The Apollo Investigations

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 77-109

  6. Post-Apollo Synthesis and Debate

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 111-140

  7. Widening the Research Front

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 141-156

  8. The Kona Conference—Day 1

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 157-192

  9. The Kona Conference—Day 2

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 193-242

  10. The Kona Conference—Day 3

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 243-272

  11. Assessments

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 273-281

  12. Epilogue

    • Warren D. Cummings
    Pages 283-287

  13. Back Matter

    Pages 289-311
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Keywords

About this book

This book follows the development of research on the origin of the Moon from the late 18th century to the present. By gathering together the major texts, papers, and events of the time, it provides a thorough chronicle of the paradigmatic shift in planetary science that arose from the notion that the Earth-Moon system was formed from two colliding planetary bodies.


The book covers pre-Apollo ideas, the conceptual evolution during and subsequent to the Apollo explorations of the Moon, and the development of the Earth-Moon system consensus.


A plethora of excerpts from key publications are included to demonstrate the shift in scientific focus over the centuries.


Through its comprehensive review of lunar science research and literature, this book shows how new technologies and discoveries catalyzed the community and revolutionized our understanding of the Moon’s formation.






Reviews

“I enjoyed this book greatly. It is well-written, well-illustrated, detailed, thorough, and aimed accurately at a postgraduate level.” (David W. Hughes, The Observatory, Vol. 140 (1278), October, 2020)

Authors and Affiliations

  • USRA, Columbia, USA

    Warren D. Cummings

About the author

Dr. David Cummings graduated from Rice University with a BS in Physics in 1963 and a PhD in Space Science in 1966. In the fall of 1966, he joined UCLA as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Planetary and Space Science.  In 1969, he was named Head of the Physics Department at Grambling College (later Grambling State University) in Louisiana.  In 1976, he became the Executive Director of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). In this capacity he was the Chief Operating Officer for USRA for thirty years. He remains at USRA as Senior Advisor and (as of 1 October 2018) Historian.


Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Evolving Theories on the Origin of the Moon

  • Authors: Warren D. Cummings

  • Series Title: Historical & Cultural Astronomy

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29119-8

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-29118-1Published: 09 October 2019

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-29121-1Published: 09 October 2020

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-29119-8Published: 25 September 2019

  • Series ISSN: 2509-310X

  • Series E-ISSN: 2509-3118

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIX, 311

  • Number of Illustrations: 111 b/w illustrations, 2 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: History of Science, Planetary Sciences, Planetology, History of Technology

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