
ABOUT
James Brannon, PhD
James has devoted the last two decades to pursuing academic interests at the intersections between science and humanities, including recent efforts as an independent scholar in the history of ancient, medieval and Renaissance astronomy. Earlier, James spent twenty-five years as a research scientist and engineer with IBM, involved in laser interactions with material surfaces.
Publications & Works
BOOK
“The Sphere of Anthony Ascham: A Commentary and Transcription of TheEarliest Known English-Language Cosmography Based on Sacrobosco’s De Sphaera,” Book Project, 2025
ARTICLE
“Aristotle and Planetary Order: An Analysis of His Solar Placement," planned submission to Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2025.
ARTICLE
“Cicero and Planetary Order: Some Observations Regarding His Arrangements of the Sun, Mercury, and Venus,” planned submission to Early Science and Medicine, 2025.
ARTICLE
“Plato and Planetary Order: Uncertainty in the positions of Mercury and Venus,” Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 54(4), 2023, pp.404-424.
ARTICLE
“The Sphere of Anthony Ascham: Sources for the Earliest-Known English-Language Cosmography based on Sacrobosco’s De Sphaera,” Centaurus, Vol. 63(2), 2021, pp. 353-380.
Article
“Bi-Daily Venus in the Medieval Thought of William of Conches: Explaining an Uncommon Celestial Event by Circumsolarity,” Journal for the History of Astronomy, Vol. 51(3), 2020, pp. 305-323.
MA PAPER
“Teaching Astronomy in Medieval Europe: The Dragmaticon as an Important Visual Predecessor to De Sphaera,” University of Wisconsin-Madison (2016, M. Shank/F. Hsia, advisors)
MA THESIS
“The Transitional Medieval Astronomies of William of Conches and Sacrobosco,” Stanford University (2013, P. Findlen, advisor).
EDUCATION
MA, History of Science
(M. Shank, 2016)
MLA, Liberal Arts & Humanities
(P. Findlen, 2013)
PhD, Chemical Physics
(D. Magde, 1979)
MS, Physical Chemistry
(1976)
BS, Chemistry
(1974)
Contact

Felix - 2024