by Gerald S Hawkins (Former Chairman, Astronomy Department, Boston University, USA)

Gerald S Hawkins obtained two doctorates, in Astronomy and Physics, from the University of Manchester. He was a professor of astronomy and the chairman of the department at Boston University, and the dean of Dickinson College. A member of the Cosmos Club for 23 years, he went to Washington as Science Advisor to the United States Information Agency. Currently Dr Hawkins is a commission member of the International Astronomical Union, with over a hundred scientific papers on comets, asteroids, tektites and cosmology.

Mindsteps to the Cosmos shows how modern global civilization depends on giant leaps of understanding that have been made in the past. Science and technology have been inspired and formulated by the sky — the cosmos in which we live. Human development could not have taken place on a cloud-shrouded planet. Mathematics was invented to track the movements of the sun, moon and stars even though back then these were thought to be gods. The space program has taken us beyond the earth, and satellite systems are exploring to the ends of the visible universe. This book provides the reader with algorithms to construct personal computer programs for finding the position of the moon and planets, and for calculating dates through historic periods in the Egyptian as well as the old and new style calendars.