This is a quick post to alert you to a new video project by FQXi members Julian Barbour and Flavio Mercati. Backed by FQXi, they are creating a series of films, in English and Italian, on the history of astronomy. Here is part one, in Italian, but with English subtitles. From Flavio:
This is the pilot for a series of movies on the history of astronomy written and produced by Julian Barbour and Flavio Mercati.
This series focuses on the twisted path that started with the birth of science in the Hellenistic era and culminated in Kepler's discovery of the laws of planetary motion nearly two millennia later. This first movie discusses the origins of Greek science and explains the object of study of ancient astronomy: the motions of the Sun, Moon, and the five planets visible with the naked eye as they appear from the Earth.
The movie concludes with the first great milestone in this story: Hipparchus and his geometrical model devised in about 150 BCE to explain the motion of the Sun relative to the fixed stars as observed from the Earth. As far as we know, it represents the first scientific theory in the modern sense.
The movie is in Italian with English subtitles, and is narrated by Flavio Mercati. Another two or three movies are planned, including an English version narrated by Julian Barbour. You can also choose to watch it with Italian subtitles, if you wish. To find the subtitles, look for the "caption" button along the bottom.
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