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Astronomy/origin of universe book

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 4/20/2010


Question
Hi, this might not be so much a question of science as it is a question of the history of science. Is there any specific scientific book that first portrayed the origin of the universe (actually more specifically, our solar system. I'm not thinking so much in terms of the Big Bang theory, but of the formation of our sun, its chemical components etc.) as we know it today and brought it into public awareness?
Was there any famous (infamous?) book like that and if so, who wrote it and when did it come out?

Thank you very much for your time
dari

Answer
Hi Dari.

I have spent a few days going over this in my mind, an even asking several of my Astronomy colleagues.  No one, myself included can really remember when they fist saw the information that you ask about.  Most of them remember seeing books and movies about the Sun and Solar System formation in the mid 1950's, but whether these were the first ones is anybody's guess.

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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