Around Kepler's "Dream"

Jean-Pierre Luminet
(Submitted on 18 Jun 2011)http://arxiv.org/abs/1106.3639
 
Johann Kepler (1571-1630) is sometimes considered
as a precursor of science-fiction novels with the writing
of "Somnium, sive opus posthumum of astronomia lunaris".
 
In this work published posthumously in 1634 by his son Ludwig,
Kepler intends to defend the Copernican doctrine
by detailing the perception of the world
for an observer located on the Moon.
 
Although Kepler was not the first
to write the fantastic account
of a voyage from the Earth to the Moon
and "pass around a message",
we show here that his "Dream"
is made conspicuous under many aspects.
 
Firstly, his author is one of the most
remarkable minds of the history of sciences.
 
Secondly, the "Dream" constitutes
the missing link between the texts
of pure imagination by Lucian of Samosata (IInd c. AD),
and the fantasy novels based on scientific discoveries
by Jules Verne, at the end of XIXth century.
 
In the third place, the complete text
presents an extraordinary structure in encased accounts,
built on several series of explanatory notes
drafted with the passing of years,
as new astronomy progressed.
 
Also it should be retained the dramatic role
that its diffusion, although confidential during Kepler's lifetime,
had on his own personal and family life,
as well as the major influence this book
exerted on a whole current of speculative literature
devoted to space travel.
 
Comments: 7 pages. Conference given in march 2010 at Paris Observatory
- University of Versailles St Quentin. To be published in Alliages,
2011 (in French)
 
Subjects: History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph);
Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph)
Cite as: arXiv:1106.3639v1 [physics.hist-ph]