HISTORY OF SCIENCE SERIES
On Heavens and Humans:

A Brief History of Astronomy and its Influence on Our Lives
Professor Sylwester Ratowt

This course will be held at the Independence Branch of the Free Library, located at  18 S. 7th Street (7th and Markets Streets), Philadelphia.

LECTURES BEGIN AT 6:30 PM

1. Tuesday, October 6, 2009 - What Do We See When We look Up?
   Step back from the light polluted sky of Philadelphia into the truly dark skies seen by people until recently.
2. Tuesday, October 13, 2009 - The Sky and the Cosmos
   The astronomy and cosmology in ancient Egypt, Babylonia and Greece. The origins of theoretical understanding of the heavens. Kingdoms, calendars and astronomy.
3. Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - The Heavens in the Middle Ages
   Greek philosophy meets Islam and Christianity. Masters at early universities reconcile Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine.
4. Tuesday, October 27, 2009 - Prestige of Astronomy

   Galileo, Brahe, Kepler bring astronomy and astrology to prominence in high courts. Revolutions in thinking about how the objects in the heavens move.

5. Tuesday, November 3, 2009 - Instruments and Images: Representing the Heavens
   Analysis of four centuries of images of the heavens, the instruments used to look at the sky, and the people who made them.
6. Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - Astronomy Meets Physics for the First Time
   Mechanical philosophy rules the day, Newton presents one law that governs all motion, and astronomy becomes very useful for sailors.
7. Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - Astronomy and Physics Meet for the Second Time
   19th century and the origin of astrophysics, how to tell what stars are made of.
8. Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - Life and Death in the Universe
   Life cycles of cosmic objects and extraterrestrial life. Classification of objects in the sky, is the sun dying? Debates about extraterrestrial life.
9. Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - Touching the Heavens
   Space telescopes, planetary exploration, science and the modern state. Astronomy and geology meet, humans walk on heavenly objects, who's paying for it?

Both literally and conceptually we all see a different sky and we understand it differently than those who looked up at the heavens in times past. Designed both for fans of astronomy and novices, this heavily illustrated and interactive course will never let you look at the sky in the same way again. Students will come away with an appreciation for how the remote objects in the heavens have affected the lives of humans for millennia.

Recommended reading:

The History of Astronomy: A Very Short Introduction.  By Michael A. Hoskin. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Cosmos: An Illustrated History of Astronomy and Cosmology.   By John David North. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2008.

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