Investigating the Origin of the Asteroids and Early Findings on Vesta: Historical Studies in Asteroid Research (Paperback, Softcover Repri)

Preface.- Exordium.- 1 Olbers' Hypothesis: The Origin of the Asteroids.- 2 Regner's Attacks on Olbers' Hypothesis.- 3 Brewster's Support for Olbers' Hypothesis.- 4 The Discovery of Vesta.- 5 Vesta: A Self-Luminous Asteroid?- 6 Asteroids and the Language of Nature.- 7 The Perturbations of Vesta.- 8 Letters: Olbers-Gauss.- 9 Letters: Bessel-Olbers-Bode-Gauss.- 10 Letters: Groombridge-Maskelyne-Herschel.- 11 Schroeter's Asteroid Books.- 12 Scientific Papers .- 13 Historical Surveys of the Asteroids.- Appendix A: Kepler's Singular Audacity.- Appendix B: Master List of Asteroid Correspondence.- Appendix C: Master List of English Magazine Articles.- Appendix D: The Historical Development of the Orbital Elements of Vesta.- Final Thoughts.- References.- Index.