The Eye of Heaven (Masters of Modern Physics)

In this collection Gingerich focuses on the transformation of astronomy from Ptolemy's geocentrisim to Kepler's remoulding of Copernican cosmology. Several of Gingerich's favourite themes are illuminated: the importance of historical context in the study of science, the careful examination of work habits as a key to understanding, and the role of creativity and artistry in science. The work includes Dr Gingerich's well-known and influential essay on crisis versus aesthetic in the Copernican revolution, a look at Newton's "Principia" as a work of art, and one of Gingerich's most popular pieces, "The Computer versus Kepler".