Mercury,
January/February 2001 Table of Contents
As
astronomers have changed how humanity has perceived the universe,
the great writers and poets have risen to the challenge.
by
Chris Impey
So
much for the supposed tension between science and art. In this eloquent
and inspired essay by astronomer Chris Impey, great science and
great literature are shown to walk hand-in-hand. As astronomers
overturn existing ideas of the universe, writers and poets respond
to the changing reality in the great works of literature. This article
clearly explains significant developments in astronomy, physics,
and cosmology from the time of the ancient Greeks to the present
day. It is also peppered with quotes from some of the great works
of literature. Because of the length of this article, the text has
been divided in two. The first half appears in the January/February
2001 issue while the second half will appear in the March/April
2001 issue.
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