Exploring the History of New Zealand Astronomy

by Wayne Orchiston (Author)
Reviews the changing focuses of astronomy in New Zealand from pre-European Maori times through to the years immediately following WWII
Collects the research of a leading expert on the subject
Contrasts the nautical astronomy practiced by the Cook voyage astronomers during their stopovers in New Zealand in the 1770s with the positional astronomy pursued by New Zealand professional and amateur astronomers a century later

From the Back Cover

Professor Orchiston is a foremost authority on the subject of New Zealand astronomy, and here are the collected papers of his fruitful studies in this area, including both those published many years ago and new material. The papers herein review traditional Maori astronomy, examine the appearance of nautical astronomy practiced by Cook and his astronomers on their various stopovers in New Zealand during their three voyagers to the South Seas, and also explore notable nineteenth century New Zealand observatories historically, from significant telescopes now located in New Zealand to local and international observations made during the 1874 and 1882 transits of Venus and the nineteenth and twentieth century preoccupation of New Zealand amateur astronomers with comets and meteors.

New Zealand astronomy has a truly rich history, extending from the Maori civilization in pre-European times through to the years when explorers and navigators discovered the region, up to pioneering research on the newly emerging field of radio astronomy during WWII and in the immediate post-war years. This survey of a neglect
ed but rich national astronomical history, does the subject full and comprehensive justice.

About the Author

Professor Wayne Orchiston is a Senior Researcher at the National Astronomical Research Institute in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and formerly worked in optical and radio astronomy in Australia and New Zealand. He has published on the history of Australian, English, French, Georgian, Indian, Indonesian, Iraqi, Japanese, New Zealand and USA astronomy, and has supervised a large pool of graduate students. Like Tsuko Nakamura, Wayne has played a leading role in developing the history of astronomy through the International Astronomical Union Commission 41, and was responsible for the formation of the Historic Radio Astronomy and Transits of Venus Working Groups. He is the Editor of the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage.

Number of Illustrations and Tables
245 illus., 152 in colour
Topics
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics
History of Science

More info and Hardcover at Springer

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