Astronomical Discovery

A series of six illustrated lectures examines how astronomical discoveries arise, comparing deliberate search, mathematical prediction, and chance. The author uses case studies that range from planetary identification and the prediction followed by observational confirmation of a planet, to classical measurements exposing aberration of light and the nutation of the Earth’s axis, and to more accidental finds such as novae and comets. Other chapters treat the discovery of regular sunspot cycles and the detection of subtle variations in latitude, emphasizing the roles of method, instrumentation, and serendipity. Prefatory remarks reflect on luck versus skill and note the sources and observatory experiences behind the accounts.