Searching the Heavens and the Earth - (Astrophysics and Space Science Library) by Agustin Udias (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Jesuits established a large number of astronomical, geophysical and meteorological observatories during the 17th and 18th centuries and again during the 19th and 20th centuries throughout the world. The history of these observatories has never been published in a complete form. Many early European astronomical observatories were established in Jesuit colleges.
During the 17th and 18th centuries Jesuits were the first western scientists to enter into contact with China and India. It was through them that western astronomy was first introduced in these countries. They made early astronomical observations in India and China and they directed for 150 years the Imperial Observatory of Beijing.
In the 19th and 20th centuries a new set of observatories were established. Besides astronomy these now included meteorology and geophysics. Jesuits established some of the earliest observatories in Africa, South America and the Far East.
Jesuit observatories constitute an often forgotten chapter of the history of these sciences.

Review Quotes

From the reviews:

"This compendium of information about astronomical and geophysical observatories founded or run by members of the Jesuit order since the 16th century ... . It is filled with an enormous amount of data, and fascinating anecdotes ... . Ultimately, this book is a resource ... . Such a history of the Jesuit observatories, centered on an overarching theme with a careful selection and analysis of this wonderful compilation of data, remains to be written." (Guy Consolmagno, S.J, Archivum Historicum Societatis Iesu, Vol. 76, 2007)