Astronomical Discovery

Herbert Hall Turner (1861-1930) was a prominent and vibrant figure in astronomy, whose career was defined by his role as the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, a position he held from 1894 until his death. His appointment coincided with Oxford's commitment to the Astrographic Catalogue, a massive international project aimed at mapping the positions of stars using photography. Turner dedicated his exceptional energy and organizational talent to this task, completing the Oxford zone ahead of all others. At the time, photographic star mapping was a pioneering field, offering Turner the chance to contribute significant methodological advancements, such as the development of standard coordinate reductions for photographic plates.

Turner’s intellectual curiosity extended beyond the Astrographic Catalogue, leading to research in areas like variable stars, lunar topography, and seismology. He also gained renown for his long-running column "From an Oxford Note Book" in The Observatory magazine, a witty and insightful commentary on astronomical developments that ran for 36 years. His book Astronomical Discovery delves into key milestones of 18th- and 19th-century astronomy, blending technical analysis with engaging narrative. Turner explores discoveries ranging from Neptune’s orbit to his own serendipitous identification of Nova Geminorum in 1903. Drawing from original records, his accounts reflect both historical depth and his dynamic personality, making the work enduringly compelling despite the field's subsequent advancements.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1963.