Daniel Kirkwood
The Asteroids; Or Minor Planets Between Mars and Jupiter.
"The Asteroids; Or Minor Planets Between Mars and Jupiter" by Daniel Kirkwood is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work discusses the discovery and characteristics of asteroids located between Mars and Jupiter, presenting both historical insights and data. The book serves to fill a gap in astronomical literature regarding these celestial bodies, shedding light on their orbits and the ongoing search for additional minor planets. The opening of the publication introduces the rapid advancements in discovering minor planets, indicating their unique orbits and relationship to Jupiter. It contains a preface by Kirkwood, outlining the content structure, which will include historical facts about the discoveries of notable asteroids such as Ceres and Pallas, along with detailed tables of data related to these celestial bodies. Furthermore, the text sets the stage for a detailed analysis of the significance of these objects in the solar system, hinting at discussions on their origins and peculiar orbital characteristics that will unfold in the subsequent sections.