Die Mechanik des Himmels

Abstract

THE number of text-books on the subject of celestial mechanics is by no means so large but that an addition ought to be warmly welcomed. More especially is this the case when the author is one who has himself made many valuable contributions to this difficult branch of analysis. Prof. Charlier's original work is characterised by great clearness and, as far as possible, simplicity. These qualities are not wanting in the lectures which he has delivered in the University of Lund since the autumn of 1898, and of which a first volume is now published. One cause for some regret may perhaps be mentioned. Prof. Charlier has shown, in several papers which he has recently published, that he can write excellent English. It is a pity, from our point of view, that in the case of his lectures he has preferred to publish in German, for there does not exist in our language a work of the same scope. Let it be said, however, that the German is exceptionally simple and should cause little difficulty to a reader whose knowledge of the language is slight.

Die Mechanik des Himmels.

Vorlesungen von Carl Ludwig Charlier., o. Professor an der Universität Lund. Erster Band. Pp. viii + 488; mit zahlreichen Figuren. (Leipzig: Veit and Co., 1902.) Price Mk. 18.