Galileo, Newton, Herschel, Huggins, Hale, Eddington, Shapley, and Hubble: these astronomers applied ideas drawn from physics to astronomy and made dramatic changes to the world-pictures that they inherited. They showed that celestial objects are composed of the same materials as the earth and that they behave in the same way. They displaced successively the earth, the sun, and finally the Milky Way galaxy from being the centre of the universe. This book, suitable for scientists from a broad range of disciplines as well as laypeople, contains their biographies and outlines their greatest discov ... More

Galileo, Newton, Herschel, Huggins, Hale, Eddington, Shapley, and Hubble: these astronomers applied ideas drawn from physics to astronomy and made dramatic changes to the world-pictures that they inherited. They showed that celestial objects are composed of the same materials as the earth and that they behave in the same way. They displaced successively the earth, the sun, and finally the Milky Way galaxy from being the centre of the universe. This book, suitable for scientists from a broad range of disciplines as well as laypeople, contains their biographies and outlines their greatest discoveries. Hard work, physical insight, desire for fame and a strong belief in the rightness of their own ideas were characteristics of all eight. It is also the first serious treatment of William Huggins. Their often quirky personalities led them into bitter controversies with their contemporaries. But their successes arose from the outstanding clarity of their thoughts, their practical ability and their strong sense of direction in science.