Background
Leverington, David was born on November 13, 1941 in Lincoln, England. Son of John Arthur and Phyllis Mary (Atkinson) Leverington.
(The history of astronomy is, like most history, a multidi...)
The history of astronomy is, like most history, a multidimensional story, and when writing about a specific period, the author has to decide how to handle all the developments of earlier times in order to set the scene. I have done this by starting most chapters of the book with a summary of astronomical knowledge at the beginning of our chosen period, together with a brief review of how such knowledge had been gained. This story is not only interesting in itself, but it will also assist those readers that would appreciate a brief reminder of some of the basic elements of astronomy. It is also necessary to decide when to start our history. Should it be the year 1900 or 1890, or should it be linked to some key development or investigation, e. g. the discovery of the electron by J. J. Thomson in 1897, or the discovery of spectroscopic binary stars by Pickering and Vogel (independently) in 1889, or maybe the year 1890 in which Thomas Edison tried unsuccessfully to detect radio waves from the Sun and Johannes Rydberg published his formula for atomic spectra? I have, in fact, decided to start this history at about 1890, as it was the year of publication of the Draper Memorial Catalogue of stellar spectra which, together with its updates, provided essential data for the understanding of stellar spectra until well into the twentieth century. This date also gives a clear hundred years up to the present.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3540199152/?tag=2022091-20
(Babylon to Voyager and Beyond describes the fascinating s...)
Babylon to Voyager and Beyond describes the fascinating story of planetary research from the time of the Babylonians and Ancient Greeks to the modern age of space exploration. In it, David Leverington outlines the key astronomical discoveries in their historical context, covering not only the successes but also the main failures. Babylon to Voyager and Beyond is written to be accessible to both amateur and professional astronomers, and those interested in the history of science. Extensively illustrated, the book concludes with a description of the extensive planetary discoveries made by spacecraft, and the discoveries of planets around other stars.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521808405/?tag=2022091-20
Astronomer writer engineering executive
Leverington, David was born on November 13, 1941 in Lincoln, England. Son of John Arthur and Phyllis Mary (Atkinson) Leverington.
Bachelor, Oxford University, England, 1963. Master of Arts, Oxford University, England, 1967. Doctor of Philosophy, Open University, England, 1997.
FBIM, British Institute Management, England, 1988.
Research physicist, ICI Fibres, England, 1963-1967; research physicist, British Aircraft Corporation, England, 1967-1969; project manager space studies, British Aircraft Corporation, England, 1969-1971; design manager Geos Spacecraft, British Aircraft Corporation, England, 1971-1977; programme manager Meteosat Spacecraft, European Space Agency, France, 1977-1980; head of spacecraft engineering, British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd., England, 1981-1985; technical executive, British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd., England, 1985-1987; executive director engineering, general manager, British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd., England, 1987-1989; project director personal communications network, British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd., England, 1989-1990; organization development director, British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd., England, 1989-1991; deputy managing director, British Aerospace Space Systems Ltd., England, 1991-1992; writer, 1993-1994, 98-. Director Satellite Management International, Ltd., 1991-1992, director Bishopsgate Systems Ltd., England, 1991-1992.
(The history of astronomy is, like most history, a multidi...)
(Babylon to Voyager and Beyond describes the fascinating s...)
Fellow Royal Astronomical Society.
Married Christine Rosemary McMullen, April 26, 1969. Children: Mark Robert, Claire Elizabeth, Rebecca Alexandra.