Overview
- Written for lay readers and hobbyists interested in applying practical astronomy to art, history, and literature
- Explains astronomical concepts and terms with non-technical language
- Packed with dozens of art reproductions, historical illustrations, maps, and charts
Part of the book series: Springer Praxis Books (PRAXIS)
Part of the book sub series: Popular Astronomy (POPULAR)
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Examples of Astronomy in History
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Front Matter
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Examples of Astronomy in Literature
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Front Matter
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Example of Terrestrial Sleuthing
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
How can shadows determine the date and time of a painting by Johannes Vermeer? How did the Moon and tides cause the loss of King John’s crown jewels?
In his newest book, Professor Olson, author of Celestial Sleuth and Further Adventures of the Celestial Sleuth, explores how astronomical clues can uncover fascinating new details about art, history, and literature. He begins with an accessible introduction to amateur “celestial sleuthing,” showing how to use your astronomical knowledge, software, archives, vintage maps, historical letters and diaries, military records, and other resources to investigate the past.
Follow along as Professor Olson then explores twenty real-world cases where astronomy has helped answer unresolved questions or correct longstanding interpretations about an event. Examples involve artists such as Vermeer, Monet, and O’Keeffe; the historical exploits of Alexander the Great, the desert travels of the Death Valley ’49ers, and ameeting between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in Marrakech; and literary works by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Longfellow.
Packed with dozens of full-color illustrations, this book will enrich your knowledge of the past and equip you with all the tools you’ll need to become a celestial sleuth yourself.
“Many people have a passion for art, or world history, or great literature, or even astronomy — but seldom in all these things at once. This remarkable book by Donald Olson of Texas State University will put you in touch with such seemingly unrelated endeavors. It will open your eyes and broaden your mind as little else could.”
Roger W. Sinnott, Sky & Telescope
Reviews
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
At Texas State University, Olson taught an Honors College course linking science and the humanities, and the Texas State group has published more than 50 articles using astronomy to solve mysteries in art, history, and literature. In 2014 the American Association of Physics Teachers honored Olson with the Paul Klopsteg Award, which recognizes outstanding communication of the excitement of contemporary physics and astronomy to the general public. In 2015 Olson was named a Regents’ Professor, the highest honor of the Texas State University system. His two previous Springer books are Celestial Sleuth (2014) and Further Adventures of the Celestial Sleuth (2018).
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Investigating Art, History, and Literature with Astronomy
Book Subtitle: Determining Time, Place, and Other Hidden Details Linked to the Stars
Authors: Donald W. Olson
Series Title: Springer Praxis Books
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95554-0
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-95553-3Published: 18 March 2022
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-95554-0Published: 17 March 2022
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XVIII, 336
Number of Illustrations: 31 b/w illustrations, 145 illustrations in colour
Topics: Astronomy, Observations and Techniques, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Arts, History of Science