Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Naked-Eye View of the Sky
Chapter 3: Thomas Wright: Visionary of Stellar Systems
Chapter 4: William Herschel: Natural Historian of the Universe
Chapter 5: Wilhelm Struve: Seeker of Parallax
Chapter 6: William Huggins: Pioneer of the "New Astronomy"
Chapter 7: Jacobus Kapteyn: Mastermind without a Telescope
Chapter 8: Harlow Shapley: Champion of the Big Galaxy
Chapter 9: Edwin Hubble: Redeemer of Island Universes
Chapter 10: The Milky Way Revealed
Notes
Index

Reviews

"The book is extremely good. It treats the subject matter in an unusual way and I learned a good deal from it! There are dozens of books about Herschel and Hubble, but not Wright or Kapteyn, and, all the way through, the author has unearthed little-known facts. The result is an engrossing picture of the way in which our knowledge of the Milky Way has been built up. The text is very authoritative and easy to read, it will appeal to both newcomers and specialists. The material has been well chosen. I have not the slightest hesitation in recommending the book…"
—Sir Patrick Moore

"A terrific blend of the science and the history."
—Marth Haynes, Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy, Cornell University

"An easily read collection of histories of key astronomers who contributed to our understanding of our galaxy…Filled with illustrations and color plates that are explained in detail and in relation to the text, the book is a treat. Minding the Heavens is not a book for beginning astronomers to learn about our galaxy. Rather, it is akin to a series of good home movies that show us how we came to know our galaxy."
—Peter Hepburn, E-Streams

"This gem of a book guides the reader on a journey of discovery; the realization that we live in a vast star city, an island universe called the Milky Way, which is in turn only one of countless galaxies which inhabit the universe … She gives a wealth of detail, in the most accessible language … I have no hesitation in recommending Minding the Heavens to all those, both students and tutors alike, interested in the history of astronomy and in particular the discovery of our Milky Way … This book is a proud addition to my library."
—Dr. Kevin P. Marshall, University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education, UK

"The book is easy to understand, full of little known facts about the astronomers and their personal lives, peppered with quotes from their personal journals. Everyone will learn something in this mixture of science and history, which Belkora does really well. She knows her stuff, and plies it well with relevant illustrations and well-described colour plates."
—Sharon Hough, member of Astronomy Ireland "Crisp and precise in conveying astronomical information … a helpful and refreshing account of what is out there and, more particularly, how we have come to find out about it."
—Colin Cooke, The Observatory Magazine

"… Ripping good stories of how parallaxes were first measured, the gaseous nature of some of the nebulae demonstrated, existence of other galaxies proven, and much else."
—Virginia Trimble, UC-Irvine and University of Maryland, History of Physics Newsletter, Vol. IX, No. 1 "In this interesting and well-written book, Belkora traces the evolution of our concepts by highlighting the careers of seven scientists who made fundamental contributions to the study of the Milky Way. The survey chapters at the beginning and end of the book are helpful in describing why Belkora focused on these particular individuals and in presenting the current view of the Milky Way. The chapters on the scientists offer a stimulating blend of scientific endeavor and personal idiosyncrasies, leaving readers with a deep sense of the scientists and their times. A popular overview of the development of a critical component of modern astronomy … Highly recommended."
—D.E. Hogg, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, CHOICE, May 2003