Henry Norris Russell by David H Devorkin

Henry Norris Russell by David H Devorkin

Henry Norris Russell lived in two universes: that of his Presbyterian forebears and that of his science. Sharp-witted and animated by nervous energy, he became one of the most powerful voices in twentieth-century American astronomy, wielding that influence in calculated ways to redefine an entire science. He, more than any American of his generation, worked to turn an observation-centered discipline into a theory-driven pursuit centered on physics. Today, professional and amateur astronomers alike know Russell for the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, the playing field for much of stellar astrophysics, as well as for his work on the evolution of stars and the origin of the solar system. But of far greater importance than his own research, which was truly remarkable in its own right, is Russell's stamp on the field as a whole. Functioning as a "headquarters scientist"--some called him General--Russell was an astronomer without a telescope. Yet he marshaled the data of the Hales and the Pickerings of the world, injected theory into mainstream astronomy, and brought atomic physics to its very core, often sparking controversy along the way. His students at Princeton went on to populate the most prestigious astronomical institutions in the United States, bringing with them Russell's beliefs that astronomy is really astrophysics and that researchers should be theoretically as well as empirically minded. This first-ever book-length biography of the "Dean of American Astronomers" interweaves personal and scientific history to illuminate how Russell's privileged Presbyterian family background, his education at Princeton and Cambridge, and his personal inclinations and attachments both served and were at odds with his campaign to modernize astronomy. This book will be of interest not only to astronomers and historians (particularly those interested in the emergence of astrophysics), but to anyone interested in the process of disciplinary change.

Known as the General, Henry Norris Russell transformed American astronomy from a simple observation of the stars into a quest to understand the origins of the universeThis meticulous, scholarly biography traces Russell's development into an innovative astrophysicist even as he clung fiercely to his Presbyterian faith. -- Eric Powell Discover Filled with rich detail, DeVorkin's account sets a high standard for scholarly scientific biographies. -- Owen Gingerich The New York Times Book Review A fine portrait of Russell. The man emerges as a true transitional figure, a modern in a starched collar. -- Lawrence A Marschall The Sciences Eminently readable and full of insight, detailed yet raising many questions for future scholars, this is biography at its best ... One might say it is a twin biography, the life of one man, and the lives of the starts, forever intertwined in history. -- Steven Dick Physics World An interesting and informative portrait of this complex man. Choice David DeVorkin has carried out a remarkably thorough search into both Russell's family life and his scientific accomplishments ... This comprehensive biography should be of interest not only to historians of science and students of astronomy, but also to psychologists who might enjoy analyzing this brilliant, domineering personality. -- Dorrit Hoffleit Nature It is clear that a tremendous amount of research has gone into the preparation of this biography, and the result is an unqualified success... As one of the most important astronomers of the 20th century, Russell deserves a first-class biography. DeVorkin has provided it. -- Patrick Moore Times Higher Education Supplement DeVorkin's biography is easily the most authoritative work on Russell's science ... It will be welcomed by scholars with an interest in the major astronomical problems of the 20th century ... -- Gale E. Christianson Physics Today DeVorkin has produced such a scholarly and thorough piece of work that it's hard to believe, at least from our standpoint, that this biography will ever be superseded. -- Alan Batten Sky and Telescope A detailed technical history describing the major works of Russell, showing how his ideas interacted with, modified, and moulded contemporary astronomical thought. -- John A. Kennewell The Physicist [An] ample, meticulously professional and expressive biography. -- Philip Morrison American Scientist David DeVorkin's volume is surely the definitive biography of one of America's most important astronomers. It is a must-read for historians of astronomy, and it is more than that. In arguing for Henry Norris Russell's centrality to the development of modern astrophysics, DeVorkin constructs a sweeping map of intellectual and institutional change. This map is broad enough to interest any historian of twentieth-century science, but it contains some significant surprises for the specialist. -- Joann Eisberg Isis

David H. DeVorkin is Curator of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and is a former Chair of the History Division of the American Astronomical Society. He is author of Science with a Vengeance: How the Military Created the U.S. Space Sciences after World War II, Race to the Stratosphere, and other books.

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9780691049182
ISBN 10	0691049181
Titel	Henry Norris Russell
Autor	David H Devorkin
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Verlag	Princeton University Press
Erscheinungsjahr	2000-07-09
Seitenanzahl	528
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.
Hinweis	Nicht verfügbar