Further Adventures of the Celestial Sleuth: Using Astronomy to Solve More Mysteries in Art, History, and Literature (Popular Astronomy)

Olson, Donald W.

ISBN 10: 3319703196 / ISBN 13: 9783319703190

Published by Springer, 2018

About this Item

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Further Adventures of the Celestial Sleuth: ...

Publisher: Springer

Publication Date: 2018

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: good

About this title

Synopsis:

From the author of "Celestial Sleuth" (2014), yet more mysteries in art, history, and literature are solved by calculating phases of the Moon, determining the positions of the planets and stars, and identifying celestial objects in paintings. In addition to helping to crack difficult cases, these studies spark our imagination and provide a better understanding of the skies. Weather archives, vintage maps, tides, historical letters and diaries, military records and the assistance of experts in related fields help with this work.

For each historical event influenced by astronomy, there is a different kind of mystery to be solved. How did the changing tides affect an army's battle plans? How did the phases of the moon affect how an artist painted a landscape? Follow these exciting investigations with a master “celestial sleuth” as he tracks down the truth and helps unravel mysteries as far back as the Middle Ages and as recent as the iconic 1945 photograph of a kiss in Times Square on VJ Day. Topics or "cases" pursued were chosen for their wide public recognition and intrigue and involve artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet; historical events such as the campaigns of Braveheart in Scotland and battles in World War II and the Korean War; and literary authors such as Chaucer, Cervantes, Shakespeare, Byron, and Edgar Allan Poe.

Review:

“I thoroughly enjoyed this book as much as i enjoyed the original celestial sleuth, partly because some of my own work involves answering astronomical queries posed by other scientists, historians, and the general public.it is very satisfying to be able to use your knowledge of astronomy and physics to help people answer their questions and gain an understanding of their problem.” (Steve Bell, The Observatory, Vol. 139 (1268), February, 2019)

“Astronomer Olson (Texas State Univ.) has extended his ‘forensic astronomy’ to tackle a new set of mysteries. Using tools such as a wide array of historical documents, railway timetables, weather reports ... he and his team of students seek to solve open questions that involve some facet of astronomy. ... Extremely well illustrated with appropriate references for each chapter, this text describes the processes used to solve these and many other questions. ... Recommended. Undergraduates and general readers.” (M.-K. Hemenway, Choice, Vol. 56 (1), September, 2018)