Ransack The weekly ezine for a scrambling of eggheads Volume 1, Issue 2 .........................................October 1, 2003, Wednesday ......................................... Page 5 All The Stars Your Stage A history of astronomy and the telescope by Emma Peel When I visited Madame Tussaud�s as a child (you all know Madama Tussaud�s - the great wax museum in the heart of London) the statue that made the most impression on me was one of Copernicus. He wore a golden sun helmet over his head and held the Earth outstretched in one hand. It was not so much the figure as Copernicus that struck me; rather the figure as mankind....or myself... with all the universe before me. It was at that point that I developed an interest in astronomy. I decided to start from the very beginning - not with the invention of the telescope, but with primitive - and not so primitive - man gazing at the sun, moon and stars and wondering, and inventing, what they were. From that point I would continue on to discover the answers as they had been discovered so many centuries ago. Next week I'll start with the constellations - a way for historical as well as present star-gazers to make sense of the night sky and ease their location of various stars. Purchase the book below, or check it, or a similar book, out of your local library. Join me on this voyage of rediscovery. A Walk Through the Heavens Return to front page.