Discovery and Classification in Astronomy

'A highly accessible collection of narrative case studies that explore how the discipline of astronomy has gone about detecting new classes of phenomena and then has decided if, indeed, these new classes are in fact new, or whether they are actually variations or extremes of previously known classes. The bold ambition of the book, to craft a systematic hierarchical classification of all astronomical phenomena, to aid in forming and reforming taxonomies for future discoveries of new astronomical phenomena is, indeed, a goal that should be of great interest to scientists, historians, sociologists and philosophers.' David H. DeVorkin, National Air and Space Museum

'In challenging widely accepted ideas about the nature of scientific discovery, Steven J. Dick has written a bold and compelling book that will surely prove to be one of the most important works in the history of astronomy published in recent years. It is both an account of observational astronomy since the early seventeenth century as well as a deeply thought out and highly original investigation of the notions of discovery and classification in astronomy.' Robert Smith, University of Alberta

'Astronomy is an observational science so astronomers don't do experiments. They only observe, gather data, classify, interpret, define, and perhaps understand. Building on the foundation established by Martin Harwit more than thirty years ago, Steven J. Dick articulates a fascinating tale of discoveries, missed discoveries, and rediscoveries, explaining the unappreciated but nevertheless often significant role of luck, culture, sociology, and the importance of a firm and unambiguous recognized statement or claim of discovery. Discovery and Classification in Astronomy weaves the tortuous path between discovery and classification including the impact of recognizing or even merely defining or renaming celestial bodies or phenomena so vividly illustrated by the unexpected emotional public as well as professional controversy over the 2006 IAU reclassification which downgraded Pluto to a seemingly lowly 'dwarf planet' status.' Ken Kellermann, National Radio Astronomy Observatory

'... an excellent history of the development of modern astrophysics, illuminated by specific examples ... Highly recommended.' D. E. Hogg, Choice

'... an extraordinarily ambitious work by a renowned historian of astronomy ... a major resource to philosophers, historians and astronomers alike ... Dick's extensive system of classification ... is an extraordinary feat, a major contribution to the pedagogy of astronomy ...' Omar W. Nasim, Metascience

'Steven J. Dick, in this rich and enlightening book, attempts to bridge these realms of scientific practice and disciplinary work through a detailed analysis of one particularly intriguing category of discovery, that of astronomical objects ... Extraordinarily wide-ranging and detailed, [the] second part of the book provides a beautifully written, author...

Steven J. Dick served as the NASA Chief Historian from 2003 to 2009 and was the Charles A. Lindbergh Chair in Aerospace at the National Air and Space Museum from 2011 to 2012. He has worked as both an astronomer and historian of science. Minor planet 6544 Stevendick is named in his honor.

Preface; Abbreviations; Introduction: the natural history of the heavens and the natural history of discovery; Part I. Entre: 1. The Pluto affair; Part II. Narratives of Discovery: 2. Moons, rings, and asteroids: discovery in the realm of the planets; 3. In Herschel's gardens: nebulous discoveries in the realm of the stars; 4. Dwarfs, giants, and planets (again!): the discovery of the stars themselves; 5. Galaxies, quasars, and clusters: discovery in the realm of the galaxies; Part III. Patterns of Discovery: 6. The structure of discovery; 7. The varieties of discovery; 8. Discovery and classification; Part IV. Drivers of Discovery: 9. Technology and theory as drivers of discovery; Part V. The Synthesis of Discovery: 10. Luxuriant gardens and the master narrative; 11. The meaning of discovery; Appendix I; Appendix II.