03410 - History of Astronomy

Learning outcomes

To obtain a basic knowledge of the development of the history of astronomy.

Course contents

Aim. The aim of the classes is to follow the historical evolution of the idea of space in astronomy, through the study of distance measures, starting from the first measures by the Greek natural philosophers up to the modern idea of cosmological distance scale and noticing the consequences produced by the evolution of space concept on development of research themes and astronomical instrumentation.

Contents. Archaeoastronomy; Mesopotamian and Egyptian astronomy; Greek astronomy and the first measures of the Earth and of the celestial bodies; Aristotelian physics, Aristarchus, Hipparchus, the Alessandria school, Ptolemy; Islamic and Medieval science; Copernicus and the Scientific Revolution; the measures of the Solar System and of the nearby stars.

Readings/Bibliography

• A. Pannekoek: "A History of Astronomy", Dover, 1989
• M Hoskin: "The Cambridge History of Astronomy", Cambridge Univ. Press, 1999

Teaching methods

• Oral lectures

Depending on the teaching programme and on the willingness of the students, different lecturers of scientific-historical disciplines could give some seminars to deepen aspects of the evolution of astronomical ideas in relation with the evolution of general scientific thoughts. Possible closer examinations of programme themes or of side subjects could be organized with the students.

Assessment methods

• Oral Examination

A basic knowledge on the overall historical evolution of astronomy will be requested to the student, even with respect to the classes programme. The major part of the examination will be on a monographic particularly in-depth subject, selected in agreement with the teacher.

Teaching tools

Detailed references in: www.bo.astro.it/~bonoli/progstotrien.html

Office hours

See the website of Fabrizio Bonoli