Celestial treasury : from music of the spheres to the conquest of space

The book explores how scientific understanding and depictions of the universe have evolved, both inspiring, and being inspired by, literature, fine arts and philosophy from antiquity, through the Middle Ages, to the present. Chapters focus on the different mechanical schemes for understanding planetary motion; representations of the sky and the universe through maps and globes; creation traditions; and mythology. Features 400 high-quality glossy colour illustrations include etchings, celestial maps, religious iconography, astronomical photographs and computer generated images.