Overview
- Presents a classic book of Mars observation through 1892, originally written by the prolific French astronomer Camille Flammarion and translated to English by Sir Patrick Moore
- Edited and with an introduction about the lives of Flammarion and Moore by neuroscientist and amateur astronomer William Sheehan
- Includes documents regarding the first three centuries of Mars studies, from the invention of the telescope up to the year of the original book’s publication, 1892
- Discusses why Mars has always been, and remains, the planet humans are most eager to explore
- Includes the first-time publication of the poem ‘Mars,’ by Percival Lowell, written after he was mesmerized by Flammarion’s book
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: Astrophysics and Space Science Library (ASSL, volume 409)
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Table of contents (12 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Presentation and Discussion of Observations
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Front Matter
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Results Obtained from the General Study of the Planet
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
Camille Flammarion (1842-1925) began his career at 16 as a human computer under the great mathematician U. J. J. Le Verrier at the Paris Observatory. He soon tired of the drudgery; he was drawn to more romantic vistas, and at 19 wrote a book on an idea that he was to make his own—the habitability of other worlds. There followed a career as France’s greatest popularizer of astronomy, with over 60 titles to his credit. An admirer granted him a chateau at Juvisy-sur-l’Orge, and he set up a first-rate observatory dedicated to the study of the planet Mars. Finally, in 1892, he published his masterpiece, La Planete Mars et ses conditions d’habitabilite, a comprehensive summary of three centuries’ worth of literature on Mars, much of it based on his own personal research into rare memoirs and archives. As a history of that era, it has never been surpassed, and remains one of a handful of indispensable books on the red planet.
Sir Patrick Moore (1923-2012) needs no introduction; his record of popularizing astronomy in Britain in the 20th century equaled Flammarion’s in France in the 19th century. Moore pounded out hundreds of books as well as served as presenter of the BBC’s TV program “Sky at Night” program for 55 years (a world record). Though Moore always insisted that the Moon was his chef-d’oeuvre, Mars came a close second, and in 1980 he produced a typescript of Flammarion’s classic. Unfortunately, even he found the project too daunting for his publish
Reviews
“The book now reviewed is volume I of Flammarion’s classic. … The quality of reproduction is excellent, and both editor and publisher must be commended for their achievement. … I have no hesitation in recommending it wholeheartedly.” (Richard McKim, The Observatory, Vol. 135 (1249), December, 2015)
“Flammarion, a noted French astronomer of the late 19th century, wrote this seminal review of the research relating to Mars in 1892. … Flammarion synthesized the many sets of observations and drew conclusions about the physical characteristics of Mars and the likelihood that the planet can support life. Historians might consider this discussion a good example of the scientific method of the period. Summing Up: Recommended. Researchers/faculty and professionals/practitioners.” (D. E. Hogg, Choice, Vol. 52 (12), August, 2015)
Authors, Editors and Affiliations
About the editor
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Camille Flammarion's The Planet Mars
Book Subtitle: As Translated by Patrick Moore
Authors: Camille Flammarion
Editors: William Sheehan
Series Title: Astrophysics and Space Science Library
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09641-4
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-09640-7Published: 11 November 2014
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-34477-5Published: 22 September 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-09641-4Published: 30 October 2014
Series ISSN: 0067-0057
Series E-ISSN: 2214-7985
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XXIII, 528
Number of Illustrations: 318 b/w illustrations
Additional Information: Original French edition published by Gauthier-Villars, Paris, 1892
Topics: Planetology, Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics, Space Exploration and Astronautics), Cultural Heritage, Popular Science in Astronomy, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics