History of astronomy in general

[Last update: 20 Jan. 2025.]
[Total entries: 73.]

1495

Oratio; inventio astronomie et per quos ad nos pervenerit recollecta.
4°, Bononiae, 1495.
TUCCIIS, J. F. DE = TUCCI o TUZZI, G. F.

Other editions:

4°, Bononiae, 1499.

1540

Oratio de inventoribus, utilitate et laudibus astronomiae.
Following the Latin version of the Centum sententiae [aphorismi] de C. Ptolemaus, 4°, Romae, 1540.
GAURICUS, L. = GAURICO, L.

Other editions

8°, Coloniae, 1544.

1565

Oratio de inventoribus, utilitate et laudibus astronomiae. [A]
Reproduced at the end of the treatise of N. Tartaglia, Jordani opusculum de ponderositate, 4°, Venetiis.
GAURICUS, L. = GAURICO, L.

1607

Disputatio de astronomie inventoribus et veris propagatoribus.
4°, Lubecae, 1607.
MODERUS, S. J.

1640

De astronomiae origine, ejusdemque ad nostram usque aetatem progressu.
8°, Harderovici, 1640.
DEUSINGIUS, A = DEUSING, A.

1650

De originibus astronomiae.
4°, Wittebergae, 1650.
NOTTNAGELIUS, C = NOTTNAGEL, C.

1690

The cradle of the twin giants, science and history.
8°, London, 1690.
With a list of books about astrology.
CHRISTMAS, H.

[CHRISTAMS, H. was from 1800 !]

1720

Programma de veteris et novae astronomiae discrimine.
4°, Wittebergae, 1720.
WEIDLER, J. F.

1727

Disputatio de suspectis mathematum, speciatim astronomiae, originibus.
4°, Wittenbergae, 1727.
WEIDLER, J. F.

1741

Historia astronomiae sive de ortu et progressu astronomiae liber singularis.
4°, Vitembergae, 1741.
WEIDLER, J. F.

First complete history of astronomy. The different authors are treated separately, with a separate article for each of their works. A supplement is appended to the Bibliographia of the same author.
= Leipzig, AcE, 1742, 311.

1744

Discours sur l’histoire de l’astronomie et méthode pour les éclipses.
(In Fontaine des Crules, Traitè complet sur l’aberration; 8°, Paris, 1744.)
LE MONNIER, P. C.

1746

The history of astronomy.
8°, London, 1746.
FOULQUES, …


Historia astronomiae, sive de ortu et progressu astronomiae.
8°, Cantabrigiae, 1746.
[There are copies from 1747.]
HEATHCOTE, R.

1747

Réflexions sur l’origine de l’astronomie.
8°, Lyon, 1747.
JOANNIS, de

1754

Historia philosophiae naturalis.
2 part. 4°, Upsaliae, 1754-58.
EEK, …

1755

Histoire générale et particulière de l’astronomie.
3 vol. 12°, Paris, 1755.
ESTÈVE, P.

1763

De astronomiae ortu ac progressu et de coelesti systemate.
4°, Romae, 1763.
JABLONOWIUS, J. A. = JABLONOW, J. A.


De astronomiae ortu atque progressu et de Telluris motu, opus astronomico-hosoricum.
4°, Romae, 1763.
ALEXANDER, J.

1767

The History of Astronomy with Its Application to Geography, History, and Chronology; Occasionally Exemplified by the Globes.
4°, London, 1767.
The history of astronomy is very brief and only serves as an opportunity for the author to show the use of globes.
COSTARD, G.

Other editions:

4°, London, 1775.

1772

De initio et progressibus astronomiae physicae.
6 part. 4°, Holmiae, 1772-79.
MELANDER, D. = MELANDERHJELM, D.

1775

Histoire de l’astronomie ancienne, depuis son origine jusqu’à l’établisement de l’école d’Alexandrie.
4°, Paris, 1775.
BAILLY, J. S.

Other editions:

4°, Paris, 1781.

Translations:

Geschichte der Sternkunde des Alterthums bis auf die Errichtung der Schule zu Alexandrien.
By C. E. Wünsch.
2 Thle in 1 vol. 8°, Leipzig, 1777.

1776

De scriptoribus et fondibus historiae philosophiae naturalis.
4°, Aboae, 1776.
CLEWBERG, …

1777

Lettres sur l’origine des sciences et sur celle des peuples de l’Asie.
2 vol. 8°, Paris, 1777-1778.
BAILLY, J. S.

It is a supplement to his Histoire de l’astronomie ancienne.

1778

Histoire de l’astronomie moderne, depuis la fondation de l’école d’Alexandrie.
3 vol. 4°, Paris, 1779-82.
BAILLY, J. S.

Other editions:

3 Vol. 4°, Paris, 1785.

For volumes I and II of the new edition, the title re-inscribed above ends as follows: … jusqu’à l’époque de 1730. pour le t. III: … jusqu’à l’époque de 1782.
Volume I contains a «Liste des manuscrits orientaux concernant l’astronomie, qui se trouvent dans quelquesunes des principales bibliothèques de l’Europe». This list is naturally very incomplete.
= Göttingische Anzeigen, 1783, 578 (t. III only).

Translations:

La storia dell’astronomia ridotta in compendio da F. Milizia.
8°, Bassano, 1791.
This translation is very abbreviated; it includes both ancient and modern astronomy.]

Geschichte der neuern Astronomie.
By J. M. C. Bartels.
2 vol. 8°, leipzig, 1796-97; with 13 pl.
This translation was not completed; it stops at Kepler.

1782

Historiola quinque insignium in astronomia revolutionum.
4°, Upsaliae, 1782.
MELANDERHJELM, D.

1790

Discorso recitato nell’aprirsi la cattedra di astronomia.
4°, Palermo, 1790.
PIAZZI, G.

This speech is about the history of astronomy.

1792

Geschichte der Astronomie von den ältesten Zeiten bis zu Ende des XVII. Jahrunderts.
8°, Chemnitz, 1792.
GERSDORF, A. T.

Other editions:

8°, Chemnitz, 1818 (some copies bear 1819).

= Neue allgem. deutsche Bibliothek, I, 1793, 32 (par H. Z.)

1796

De origine astronomiae apud Orientales.
4°, Lundae, 1796.
NORBERG, M.

1804

Geschichte der Astronomie und sphärischen Astronomie.
4°, Petersburg, 1804.
SCHUBERT, F. T.

Excerpt from the first part of his Populäre Astronomie.

Translations:

Astronomiens historia.
8°, Stockholm, 1849.

1805

Histoire de l’Astronomie ancienne et moderne abrégée par V. C[omeiras], ouvrage dans lequel on a conservé religieusement le texte, en supprimant les calculs abstraits, les notes hypothétiques et les digressions scientifiques.
2 vol. 8°, Paris, 1805; some copies 1806.
BAILLY, J. S.

A work of little importance, in which the original is thoughtlessly mutilated.

1816

O pozytkach wynikajacych dla spolecznósci ludzkiéy z nauki astronomii; z krótka rozprawa o zródle czyli poczatku falszywey nauki astrologii; wyjatki z dziela «Histoire de l’astronomie moderne par Bailly.»
8°, Wilnie, 1816.
KARCZEWSKI, W.

Place astronomy in society and origin of astrology.

1817

Histoire de l’astronomie ancienne.
2 vol. 4°, Paris, 1817.
DELAMBRE, J. B. J.

Important work, made according to the sources, and in which these sources are analyzed.

1819

Histoire de l’astronomie du moyen-âge.
4°, Paris, 1819.
DELAMBRE, J. B. J.

The astronomy of the Arabs is treated in detail, based on notes provided to the author by J. J. Sédillot, taken from the originals.


Redevoering ten onderwerp hebbende een beknopt overzigt over de geschiedenis der sterrekunde.
8°, Amsterdam, 1819.
LEMANS, M.

1821

Histoire de l’astronomie moderne.
2 vol. 4°, Paris, 1821.
DELAMBRE, J. B. J.

Work composed of the analysis of sources.


Précis de l’histoire de l’astronomie.
8°, Paris, 1821.
LAPLACE, P. S. DE

Other editions:

8°, Paris, 1863.

Separated edition of lib. V about l’Exposition du système du monde.]

Translations:

Compendio della storia dell’astronomia dettato dal Marchese di Laplace.
By A. Cattaneo.
8°, Milano, 1823.

Historiya astronomii krótko zebrana prezez Markiza de Laplace
By W. Karczewski.
8°, Wilnie, 1825.

1827

Histoire de l’astronomie au dix-huitième siècle; […] publiée par [L.] Mathieu.
4°, Paris, 1827.
DELAMBRE, J. B. J.

This volume completes the series of stories that J. B. J. Delambre wrote about his readings, and which covers all eras, from antiquity to modern times.
= Cmp, III, 1827, 215. – Jahrbücher für wissensch. Kritik, 1829, II, n°s 21, 23, 24, 25 (par F. W. Bessel.) – BESSEL, Rec, 1878, 298.


Krótki rys historyczny tyczący się umiejętności astronomii.
8°, Warszawie, 1827.
ARMINSKI, F.

Outline of a history of astronomy.

1830

Abriss einer Geschichte der Astronomie.
8°, Wien, 1830.
LITTROW, J. J.

1832

History of astronomy.
8°, London, 1832.
ROTHMAN, R. W.

N°s I-IV of Library of useful Knowledge.
= Londres, MNt, XVII, 1837, 103.


Esquisses historiques des principales sciences physiques et mathématiques.
8°, Paris, 1832
JOURDAN, A. J. L.

Astronomy is included within the structure of this work.

1837

History of the inductive sciences from the earliest to the present times.
3 vol. 8°, London, 1837.
WHEWELL, W.

The history of astronomy is divided in this work as follows:
Vol. I, book III, History of Greek astronomy; book V, History of formal astronomy after the stationary period.
Vol. II, book VII, History of physical astronomy.

Other editions:

5 vol. 8°, London, 1847 + Supplement, 8°, London, 1847.

4 vol. 8°, London, 1857; in the 4th vol. of this latest edition is included the Supplement vol. of the previous edition, which also serves for this one.

= Edinburgh review, LXVI, 1837, 110. – Jahrbücher der Literatur, LXXXVI et LXXXVIII, 1839 (par J. J. von Littrow; very comprehensive analysis, comprising 80 pages 8°). – J. J. VON LITTROW, Vermischte Scriften, III, 1846, 372. – Göttingische Anzeigen, 1840, 403. – QRw, LXVIII, 1841, 177.

Translations.

Geschichte der inductiven Wissenschaften, der Astronomie, Physik, Mechanik, Chemie, Geologie.
By J. J. von Littrow.
3 vol. 8°, Stuttgart, 1840-44; with translator’s remarks.

= Heidelberger Jahrb. der Literat., XXXIII, 1840, 312 (by Muncke). – Munich, GAn, X, 1840, 721; XII, 1841, 361 (by J. K.).]

1840

The philosophy of the inductive sciences, founded upon their history.
2 vol. 8°, London, 1840.
WHEWELL, W.

Other editions:

2 vol. 8°, London, 1847.

4 vol. 8°, London, 1858-60; the first two volumes are titled: First part, History of scientific ideas; the next volume: Second part, Novum organon renovatum; the last, “inclucling the completion of the third edition of the Philosophy of the inductive sciences,” bears the title: On the philosophy of discovery, chapters historical and critical.

= QRw, LXVIII, 1841, 177. – Edinburgh Review, LXXIV, 1842, 265. – Ath, 1859, I, 42; 1860, I, 501.

1852

History of physical astronomy from the earliest ages to the middle of the XIXth century, comprehending a detailed account of the establishment of the theory of gravitation by Newton, and its development by his successors; with an exposition of the progress of research on all the othe subjects of celestial physics.
8°, London, 1852.
GRANT, R.

A carefully written work that has become a classic. It first appeared in installments, from 1848 to 1850, in Baldwin’s Library of useful Knowledge.
= Ath, 1852, 424. – PMg4, III, 1852, 468. – ARr, III, 1865, 180.

1855

Astronomische Vorträge über Stellung, Beschaffenheit und Bewegung der Gestirne.
8°, Dresden, 1855.
DRECHSLER, A.

Summary of exposition and history. The article on p. 71, “aus und zu Geschichte der Astrologie,” is a very good picture of this scholarly error.
= Unt, IX, 1855, 159.

Esiste una edizione del 1861

1859

Ptolemäus, Copernicus, Keppler, Newton, Laplace, Kant, Entwickelungsgang der Astronomie.
4°, Wien, 1859.
GESCHWANDER, S.

1865

L’histoire de l’astronomie dans ses rapports avec la religion.
12°, Paris, 1865.
REOUGEMONT, F. DE

Translations:

Geschichte der Astronomie in ihren Beziehungen zur Religion.
By B. T.
8°, Gütersloh, 1869.

1873

Geschichte der Himmelskunde von der aeltesten bis auf die neueste Zeit.
2 vol. 8°, Braunschweig, 1873.
MÄDLER, J. H.

= Nat, VI, 1872, 58 (by T. Webb). – AdM, LIV. 1872, Ber, 10 (by J. A. Grunert); LV, 1873, Ber, 1 (by J. Franz).


Histoire de l’astronomie depuis ses origines jusqu’à nos jours.
8°, Paris, 1873.
HOEFER, F.

= Leipzig, Vjh, IX, 1874, 195 (by R. W[olf]). – Bma1, X, 1876, 258 (by G. R[ayet]).

1874

Framstallning af astronomin i dess historiska utveckling och på dess nuvarande ståndpunkt.
8°, Stockholm, 1874.
GYLDÉN, H.

Historical development of astronomy and its current state.
= Leipzig, Vjh, XI, 1876, 113. – Bma2, II, 1878, 55 (by G. R[ayet]).

Translations:

Die Grundlehren der Astronomie nach ihrer geschichtlichen Entwickelung.
8°, Leipzig, 1877.

= ZmU, XIII, 1882, 463 (by A. J. Pick).

1875

Geschichte der Astronomie.
8°, Langensalza, 1875.
LOOFF, F. W.

1880

Les origines de l’histoire d’après la Bible et les traditions des peuples orientaux.
3 vol. 8°, Paris, 1880-84.
LENORMANT, F.

In vol. I several questions are addressed.

Other editions:

3 vol. 12°, Paris, 1880-84.

Citazioni, spunti, segnalazioni, immagini e articoli per stimolare la curiosità e la voglia di approfondire.