women in cosmology, from the library of a nobel prize winner
[SANDAGE, Allan] [VYSSTOSKY] Williams, Emma T. R., et al.
The Fundamental Properties of the Galactic System. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Volume XLII, Art 2. Pages 113-272.
New York, Academy of Sciences, October 15, 1941.
This copy is from the library of Allan R. Sandage, the most important astronomer and cosmologist of his generation, who determined the first reasonably accurate values for the Hubble Constant and the age of the universe. It was originally owned by his wife, the astronomer Mary Connelly, whose ownership initials are on the wrapper. Connelly had studied at Indiana University and Racliffe, and was teaching at Mount Holyoke when they met (New York Times obituary, November 17, 2010).
Vyssotsky (1894-1975) studied mathematics and astronomy as an undergraduate at Swarthmore, then researched A-type (young, energetic) stars from the Harvard Observatory for her Radcliffe Phd. While she was a postgraduate researcher at the University of Virginia's McCormick Observatory she met and married fellow astronomy Alexander N. Vyssotsky. 'She remained for the rest of her career at the University of Virginia, first as a research fellow and instructor in astronomy, and then, at age fifty, began to work with her husband on a book on stellar motions, published four years later' (Ogilvie, Biographical Dictionary of Women in Science p. 1333).
Vyssotsky and her husband studied 'stellar parallaxes by applying trigonometric functions to observations made on multiple photographic exposures... Their research led to accurate calculations of stellar motions and the determination of the structure of galaxie' (Oakes, Encyclopedia of World Scientists). In 1946 Vyssotsky was awarded the American Astronomical Society's Annie Jump Canon Award in Astronomy in recognition of her contributions to the field of stellar spectra.
This volume also contains papers by Peter van de Kamp, Dirk Brouwer, W. J. Luyten, Jan Schilt, and Frederick Seares, among others. It was edited by astronomer Bart J. Bok, whose career was influenced when he met Sandage as an undergraduate.
First edition, first printing; 8vo; charts and graphs within the text; original buff wrappers printed in black, ownership initials in black ink to the upper wrapper, some loss from the ends of the spine, wrappers rubbed and toned with few small marks and some mild creasing, very good condition, pp113-272.
Stock code 113065
DELIVERY & RETURNS
We accept returns within 30 days of purchase. Please note that all items must be returned in their original condition, including all tags and packaging. Shipping costs are non-refundable.
The Fundamental Properties of the Galactic System.
SCHWARZSCHILD, Karl.
Die Poincarésche Theorie des Gleichgewichts einer Homogenen Rotierenden Flüssigkeitsmasse.
1896.
First edition, the rare offprint of astronomer and mathematician Karl Schwarzschild's doctoral dissertation on the theories of Poincaré, Die Poincarésche Theorie, published in 1896.
$1,709.00
LEMAÎTRE, Georges.
The Primeval Atom. An Essay on Cosmogony.
1950.
First English language edition of The Primeval Atom, Georges Lemaitre's popular account of his big bang theory. An unusually attractive copy in the uncommon dust jacket.
$1,709.00
LAPLACE, Pierre Simon, Marquis de.
Traité de Mécanique Céleste.
AN VII [1799] - AN XI 1802; Courcier, AN XIII, 1805; Huzard-Courcier, AN XIII 1805; Bachelier, 1825.
'the sequel to newton'.
$20,505.00
