TY - BOOK ID - 14306709 TI - The story of helium and the birth of astrophysics PY - 2013 SN - 1614659X SN - 1461453623 1461453631 1283907925 PB - New York : Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, DB - UniCat KW - Astrophysics -- History. KW - Astrophysics. KW - Stars -- History. KW - Helium KW - Astrophysics KW - Astronomy & Astrophysics KW - Chemistry KW - Physical Sciences & Mathematics KW - Astronomy - General KW - Inorganic Chemistry KW - Spectra KW - History KW - History. KW - Astronomical physics KW - Physics. KW - Astronomy. KW - Cosmology. KW - Phase transformations (Statistical physics). KW - Condensed materials. KW - Condensed matter. KW - Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology. KW - Popular Science in Astronomy. KW - History of Science. KW - Quantum Gases and Condensates. KW - Astronomy KW - Cosmic physics KW - Physics KW - Annals KW - Auxiliary sciences of history KW - Condensed materials KW - Condensed media KW - Condensed phase KW - Materials, Condensed KW - Media, Condensed KW - Phase, Condensed KW - Liquids KW - Matter KW - Solids KW - Phase changes (Statistical physics) KW - Phase transitions (Statistical physics) KW - Phase rule and equilibrium KW - Statistical physics UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:14306709 AB - Biman Nath The Story of Helium and the Birth of Astrophysics Helium was the first element ever discovered by astronomers. Its presence was first indicated in the Sun and not on Earth. Further, its discovery marked the birth of the new science of astrophysics. However, it turns out that the events leading to the discovery of helium have been rather misrepresented in books, journals, and even encyclopedias. The usual story about its joint discovery during a solar eclipse in 1868 by French astronomer Pierre Janssen and late in England by Norman Lockyer, is far from the truth. Janssen never mentioned any new spectral line in his reports. The actual story turns out to be as dramatic as in fiction. This book tells the story without jargon, using the words of the scientists themselves (from their letters and reports), and rescues the real story from the backwaters of history. ER -