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The Dawn of Modern Cosmology: From Copernicus to Newton
New to Penguin Classics, the astonishing story of the Copernican Revolution, told through the words of the ground-breaking scientists who brought it about
A Penguin Classic
In the late fifteenth century, the earth stood motionless at the center of a small, ordered cosmos. Around us, it was believed, the moon, the sun, and the planets revolved in crystalline spheres, their orbits perfect, eternally unchanging circles. Just over a century later, the sun was now the center of creation; the earth just another planet hurtling through empty, near-infinite space. This is the story of an astonishing change, a transformation in human thought, about both the universe and our place within it, told through the words of the astronomers and mathematicians at its heart. Encompassing the most evocative excerpts from the works and letters of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Descartes, Newton, and others, and including guiding notes from renowned historian of science, Aviva Rothman, The Dawn of Modern Cosmology is the definitive record of one of science's greatest achievements.
A Penguin Classic
In the late fifteenth century, the earth stood motionless at the center of a small, ordered cosmos. Around us, it was believed, the moon, the sun, and the planets revolved in crystalline spheres, their orbits perfect, eternally unchanging circles. Just over a century later, the sun was now the center of creation; the earth just another planet hurtling through empty, near-infinite space. This is the story of an astonishing change, a transformation in human thought, about both the universe and our place within it, told through the words of the astronomers and mathematicians at its heart. Encompassing the most evocative excerpts from the works and letters of Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Descartes, Newton, and others, and including guiding notes from renowned historian of science, Aviva Rothman, The Dawn of Modern Cosmology is the definitive record of one of science's greatest achievements.
672 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 27, 2025
I was very happy to learn that this book existed, as I am currently doing research on the history of astronomy. This book is a collection of the most important texts in astronomy history spanning Copernicus to Newton. The book contains extracts of texts by scientists such as Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, Descartes, Halley, Newton and so on, outlining the developments in astronomical research during that era. It is especially focused on the establishment of the heliocentric world view.
Each text has a short introduction explaining its context and some biographical notes about the author. There is also a very nice introduction in the book outlining key points in the history.
Not all the texts are that engaging to read (it depends on for what reasons you are reading this book), but it is remarkable how easy it is to read most of these original texts. I especially giggled at the frankness of Kepler’s section titled ‘Advice for idiots’ in reading the writings on this scientific theories.
I would have loved there to be a similar book for the history continuing after Newton and his theory of gravitation as well.
Each text has a short introduction explaining its context and some biographical notes about the author. There is also a very nice introduction in the book outlining key points in the history.
Not all the texts are that engaging to read (it depends on for what reasons you are reading this book), but it is remarkable how easy it is to read most of these original texts. I especially giggled at the frankness of Kepler’s section titled ‘Advice for idiots’ in reading the writings on this scientific theories.
I would have loved there to be a similar book for the history continuing after Newton and his theory of gravitation as well.
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November 2, 2023Quite tedious but worth several good tidbits of information.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews