Star maps: history, artistry & cartography (Praxis book - popular astronomy)

With the construction of the International Space Station, and new plans for manned missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, there is renewed interest in the heavens. An ever-increasing number of people are fascinated with the science of space and are becoming amateur astronomers. The beauty and awe generated by the celestial void capture our imagination and delight our aesthetic sense. Antiquarian map societies are prospering, and celestial maps are now viewed as a specialty of map collecting. This book traces the history of celestial cartography and relates this history to the changing ideas of man's place in the universe and to advances in map-making. Reproductions of maps from antiquarian celestial atlases and prints, many previously unpublished in book form, enrich the text, and a legend accompanies each illustration to explain its astronomical and cartographic features. Also included in the book are discussions of non-European celestial maps and chapters on early American influences and celestial map-collecting. The book describes the development and relationships between different sky maps and atlases as well as demonstrating contemporary cosmological ideas, constellation representations, and cartographic advances.

Introduction. Non-European cosmology and constellations. European systems of cosmology. Constellation development. Early star maps. The “Big 4” of the Golden Age (1600-1800) and their spin-offs. Other important star atlases of the Golden Age. Special topics (e.g., celestial globes, astronomical instruments, solar system, etc.). Early American influences. The transition to non-pictorial star atlases. Appendix: Collecting celestial maps and prints. Glossary. Index.