Kepler’s Somnium: The Dream, or Posthumous Work on Lunar Astronomy

Description

One of the most important books in the history of science, Kepler's long-overlooked Somnium made a significant contribution to the study of astronomy. Its unique twofold nature--combining a serious scientific treatise on lunar astronomy with a fictional narrative about a trip to the moon--puzzled seventeenth-century readers as well as succeeding generations, and the work lapsed into obscurity. This excellent English translation of the Somnium (originally written in Latin) offers plentiful notes to assist in following Kepler's thought, along with an introduction that traces the work's history and significance. This edition reconstructs the Somnium's checkered history in complete and fascinating detail, with scholarly commentary and extensive appendixes. Titlepage Imprint Preface Abbreviations of Works Cited Frequently Contents List of Illustrations Introduction The Dream Kepler’s Notes on the Dream Kepler’s Geographical Appendix to the Dream Kepler’s Notes on the Geographical Appendix Appendixes — Bibliography — Index Appendix A Jacob Bartsch Appendix B Ludwig Kepler Appendix C Kepler's Lunar Dissertation of 1593 Appendix D Kepler's Translation of Plutarch's Moon Appendix E Kepler and Donne Appendix F Kepler's Legendary Account of Aristotle's Death Appendix G Oddur Einarsson, Bishop in Iceland Appendix H Kepler's Concept of Gravity Appendix I Kepler's Concept of Inertia Appendix J The Cold of Quivira Appendix K David Fabricius Appendix L Paul Guldin Appendix M The People of Lucumoria Bibliography Index