Bulletin Issue 29 Spring 2018 New Series by Paul Haley Begins in This Issue: 19Th Century Observatories 2018 Sha Spring Conference

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Bulletin Issue 29 Spring 2018 New Series by Paul Haley Begins in This Issue: 19Th Century Observatories 2018 Sha Spring Conference BULLETIN ISSUE 29 SPRING 2018 NEW SERIES BY PAUL HALEY BEGINS IN THIS ISSUE: 19TH CENTURY OBSERVATORIES 2018 SHA SPRING CONFERENCE The first talk is at 1015 and the Saturday 21st April 2018 The conference registraon is morning session ends at 1215 Instute of Astronomy, between 0930 and 1000 at which for lunch. The lunch break is University of Cambridge me refreshments are available unl 1330. An on-site lunch Madingley Road, Cambridge in the lecture theatre. The will be available (£5.00) BUT CB3 0HA conference starts at 1000 with a MUST BE PRE-ORDERED. There welcome by the SHA Chairman are no nearby eang places. Bob Bower introduces the There is a break for refreshments Aer the break there is the aernoon session at 1330 then from 1530 to 1600 when Tea/ final talk. The aernoon there are two one-hour talks. Coffee and biscuits will be session will end at 5 p.m. and provided. the conference will then close. 10 00 - 1015 10 15 - 1115 1115 - 1215 SHA Chairman Bob Bower Carolyn Kennett and Brian Sheen Kevin Kilburn Welcomes delegates to Ancient Skies and the Megaliths Forgotten Star Atlas the Instute of of Cornwall Astronomy for the SHA 2018 Archeoastronomy in Cornwall The 18th Century unpublished Spring Conference Past and Present Uranographia Britannica by Dr John Bevis 13 30 - 1430 14 30 - 1530 16 00 – 17 00 Nik Szymanek Kenelm England Jonathan Maxwell The Road to Modern Berkshire Astronomers 5000 BC Some lesser known aspects Astrophotography to AD 2018 regarding the evolution of The pioneering days of Some topics on astronomers and refracting telescopes: from early astrophotographers, observations made from Lippershey's spectacle lens to the up to modern times Berkshire since pre-historic Apochromats times until last week An insight into the development of 2 the refracting telescope In this Issue BOOK SALE AT THE 2017 AGM Digital Bulletin The Digital Bulletin provides extra content and links when viewing the 4 Bulletin as a PDF. News Update News Items about the History of 5 Astronomy What happened to Christopher Wren's Inaugural 39 from Robert McLachlan Tulse Hill Observatory and William Huggins.from Christopher 43 Taylor From the Library Shelves from Carolyn Bedwell 4455 Book Review 1 Discovering Pluto Reviewed by Mike Leggett 46 Event reports Book Review 2 2017 Annual General Meeting The Works and Family of a Westmeath 48 Held on 28th October 2017 at the British 6 Astronomer Reviewed by Allan Chapman Midland Institute in Birmingham Centennial News Article 1 38 Articles The Solar Spectrum Centennial News Article 2 New Comet 1818 48 19th Century Observatories 1800 -1809 from Paul Haley. A new series exploring the growth 8 and development of astronomical observatories. Astroconundrum 1 Solution 49 from Paul Haley Astroconundrum 2 Ouro Preto Observatory Black Gold in Brazil 11 50 from Mike Frost. from Paul Haley The Astronomy of George Thomas Smith- History of Astronomy Crossword 2 52 13 from Len Adam Clarke from Adrian Padfield Harold Knox-Shaw's Stereoscopic Slides 17 from about 1920 to 1950 from Anne Charles Astro-Research 3 - Paul Haley continues his series on researching astronomical history. 22 SPRING CONFERENCE Takes The Total SolarEclipse of 1954 . 26 from Kevin Kilburn place on Saturday 21st April 2018 The Eclipse of 1927 and the Manchester Astronomical Society from Kevin Kilburn 28 At the Birmingham and Midland Astronomical Snippets Part 6. - Paul Haley Instute continues his journey to investigate astronomical resources. 29 Details Opposite Obituary: Richard Baum (1930 – 2017) 37 from William Sheehan 3 Digital Bulletin 29 for online readers From the SHA Online Article Library The Digital Bulletin provides extra content and William Crabtree and The Tuttles of Harvard links for members viewing the Bulletin as a the date of Easter PDF. Articles that have previously appeared in College Observatory: the Antiquarian Astronomer are now on line. Selected articles can be read directly from this 1850 1862 page. Key links to the latest and past issues of SHA e-News and other material can be accessed from here. Click the centre of any image to go to the content. QR codes next to each item allows the printed Bulletin reader to access the digital content. Please note that e-News is now published at the beginning of February, May, August and November. by SHA e-News Richard issues can be By David E. accessed here Sellers Schmidt Click the QR Code box to link to it The telescopes of John Henry Reynolds Identifying the stars on The of Harborne, Birmingham, England: An Antiquarian Johann Bayers' Chart of Outstanding Grand Amateur the South Polar Sky Astronomer web page can be linked to here Free to download from web as a PDF file By Ian Ridpath by Dr. Ron Maddison The 1769 Transit of Venus Observatory in Lewes, Delaware John Holt Stanway: Gone to Texas By Geoffrey Thurston by James Bryan 4 NEWS EDITORIAL Under the early guidance of Stuart Williams, THE Kevin Kilburn, and the late Ken Goward and Peter Hingley, the Society grew EDITORIAL VICTORIAN and prospered, as it continues to do From Carolyn Kennett and today. Peter Hingley’s ‘day job’ as Librarian AMATEUR and Archivist of the Royal Len Adam Astronomical Society opened up wonderful ASTRONOMER research opportunities to S.H.A. Allan Chapman has members keen to obtain access to an Welcome to Issue 29 of the SHA Bulletin. abundance of primary sources. And the We are really pleased to have so many republished the Victorian experienced and expert contributors to the Amateur Astronomer with the S.H.A.and R.A.S. continue in this close working relationship. As with the early Bulletin. Because of space limitations a help of the society for the RoyalSociety and the early R.A.S., the number of contributions have had to be held History of Astronomy S.H.A.’s members earn their daily bread over until the next issue so you will have to through a variety of traditional and new wait until October to read them! In this professions, from medicine to information issue we continue the series of technology. It is their subscriptions, Astronomical Snippets and Astro-Research donations, and bequests that pay for from Paul Haley who also supplies the everything, be they a student paying a answers to his first Astro-Conundram for subsidised rate, or a retired professional those readers who tackled this and he leaving a handsome bequest in their will. includes Astro-Conundrum 2. Paul also For just as Bishop Thomas Sprat F.R.S. starts a new series on 19th century styled the Royal Society in 1667, they are all Observatories in this issue. There is an ‘gentlemen [and now ladies], free and article from Anne Charles about Robert unconfin’d’. Knox - Shaw's stereoscopic slides and Yet independent and self-governing as the articles from Kevin Kilburn about the 1927 S.H.A. is, it is open and welcoming to all, and 1954 Eclipses. Mike Frost has its members being involved not just with contributed an article about Brazilian research, but also with outreach to schools Observatories and Adrian Padfield an and to regional astronomical article on the Astronomy of George Thomas societies.Society meetings are held in both Smith- Clarke. Robert McLachlan gives northern and southern Britain, and recently, some insight into the one -time Professor of in Paris, although its hub is the Victorian Astronomy at Gresham College, Sir gothic grandeur of the Birmingham and Christopher Wren. Christopher Taylor The following is an extract from Midland Institute. Here, the S.H.A. holds its discusses Tulse Hill Observatory and Sir the preface of the book explaining annual AGM in October, and it is in William Huggins and Carolyn Bedwell the B.M.I. that the Society’s large and looks at some miscellaneous items from the the support given by the SHA in SHA Library Shelves in her regular series. the book's publication: constantly growing Library of historical astronomy books is located. There are two book reviews, one from our President Allan Chapman of "The Works "On 29 June 2002, a new Society devoted I am greatly indebted to Dr James Dawson, a and Family of a Westmeath Astronomer" by to the history of astronomy was founded. busy hospital doctor who also Ian Elliot and Charles Mollan and one from The Society for the History of Astronomy serves as Librarian of the S.H.A., for giving Mike Leggett of "Discovering Pluto: held its inaugural meeting in Wadham his precious spare time and technical Exploration at the Edge of the Solar College, Oxford: the very same College in expertise to make it possible, at last, to see System" by Dale P Cruikshank and William which Bishop John Wilkins, Sir this second edition of my book through Sheehan. This issue also contains Digital Christopher Wren, John Wallis, Robert the press. For while Tom Longford of Bulletin 29 and also a "Digital Bulletin 29 Hooke, the Hon. Robert Boyle and other Gracewing Press had long desired to Extra" which links through to videos friends had met for their ‘Experimental re-publish The Victorian Amateur published by the Royal Astronomical Club’ after 1649. After the Restoration of Astronomer, only half of the original Society about "The Treasures of the RAS". the Monarchy in 1660, this same group of electronicfiles were still in existence. It was The back page is where you will find the friends would re-locate to Gresham James Dawson who, during the summer of second SHA crossword . There is a report College in the City of London, to become 2017, in conjunction with the S.H.A.
Recommended publications
  • Mathematics Is a Gentleman's Art: Analysis and Synthesis in American College Geometry Teaching, 1790-1840 Amy K
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2000 Mathematics is a gentleman's art: Analysis and synthesis in American college geometry teaching, 1790-1840 Amy K. Ackerberg-Hastings Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Higher Education and Teaching Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, and the Science and Mathematics Education Commons Recommended Citation Ackerberg-Hastings, Amy K., "Mathematics is a gentleman's art: Analysis and synthesis in American college geometry teaching, 1790-1840 " (2000). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 12669. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/12669 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margwis, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. in the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted.
    [Show full text]
  • Ocabulary of Definitions : P
    Service bibliothèque Catalogue historique de la bibliothèque de l’Observatoire de Nice Source : Monographie de l’Observatoire de Nice / Charles Garnier, 1892. Marc Heller © Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur Février 2012 Présentation << On trouve… à l’Ouest … la bibliothèque avec ses six mille deux cents volumes et ses trentes journaux ou recueils périodiques…. >> (Façade principale de la Bibliothèque / Phot. attribuée à Michaud A. – 188? - Marc Heller © Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur) C’est en ces termes qu’Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin décrivait la bibliothèque de l’Observatoire de Nice en 1899 dans l’introduction du tome 1 des Annales de l’Observatoire de Nice 1. Un catalogue des revues et ouvrages 2 classé par ordre alphabétique d’auteurs et de lieux décrivait le fonds historique de la bibliothèque. 1 Introduction, Annales de l’Observatoire de Nice publiés sous les auspices du Bureau des longitudes par M. Perrotin. Paris,Gauthier-Villars,1899, Tome 1,p. XIV 2 Catalogue de la bibliothèque, Annales de l’Observatoire de Nice publiés sous les auspices du Bureau des longitudes par M. Perrotin. Paris,Gauthier-Villars,1899, Tome 1,p. 1 Le présent document est une version remaniée, complétée et enrichie de ce catalogue. (Bibliothèque, vue de l’intérieur par le photogr. Jean Giletta, 191?. - Marc Heller © Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur) Chaque référence est reproduite à l’identique. Elle est complétée par une notice bibliographique et éventuellement par un lien électronique sur la version numérisée. Les titres et documents non encore identifiés sont signalés en italique. Un index des auteurs et des titres de revues termine le document.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating Cosmic Snowballs
    Investigating Cosmic Snowballs Professor David Jewitt CREDIT: NASA INVESTIGATING COSMIC SNOWBALLS Professor David Jewitt and his team at UCLA explore the nature of comets. These fleeting visitors to our cosmic shore are important sources of information, and can help to reveal the origin and evolution of the solar system. Most recently, Professor Jewitt’s team have explained the unusual activity of some of the most distant comets in the solar system. Comets play a vivid historical role in the orbital periods of less than 200 years), human psyche, often being interpreted and the other supplying long-period as portents of impending doom. In the objects (greater than 200 years). The era of modern science, we realise that nearest store of cometary precursors, comets are simply icy leftovers, frozen in containing billions of nuclei larger time since the solar system’s formation than a kilometre across, is called the about 4.6 billion years ago. Kuiper Belt. This is a fat disk of objects encircling the Sun with an inner edge Far from bringing us doom and disaster, at Neptune’s orbit – approximately 7.5 comets offer scientists unparalleled billion kilometres from the Sun, or 30 opportunities to learn about the earliest AU – and reaching out to at least several periods of the solar system’s evolution. thousand AU. Pluto resides in this region At the same time, they are some of and is now recognised as large Kuiper the most challenging objects to Belt object. study and remain some of the least well understood. The Kuiper belt was discovered by Professor David Jewitt and his former What Are Comets and Where Do student Jane Luu in 1992.
    [Show full text]
  • Správa O Činnosti Organizácie SAV Za Rok 2017
    Astronomický ústav SAV Správa o činnosti organizácie SAV za rok 2017 Tatranská Lomnica január 2018 Obsah osnovy Správy o činnosti organizácie SAV za rok 2017 1. Základné údaje o organizácii 2. Vedecká činnosť 3. Doktorandské štúdium, iná pedagogická činnosť a budovanie ľudských zdrojov pre vedu a techniku 4. Medzinárodná vedecká spolupráca 5. Vedná politika 6. Spolupráca s VŠ a inými subjektmi v oblasti vedy a techniky 7. Spolupráca s aplikačnou a hospodárskou sférou 8. Aktivity pre Národnú radu SR, vládu SR, ústredné orgány štátnej správy SR a iné organizácie 9. Vedecko-organizačné a popularizačné aktivity 10. Činnosť knižnično-informačného pracoviska 11. Aktivity v orgánoch SAV 12. Hospodárenie organizácie 13. Nadácie a fondy pri organizácii SAV 14. Iné významné činnosti organizácie SAV 15. Vyznamenania, ocenenia a ceny udelené organizácii a pracovníkom organizácie SAV 16. Poskytovanie informácií v súlade so zákonom o slobodnom prístupe k informáciám 17. Problémy a podnety pre činnosť SAV PRÍLOHY A Zoznam zamestnancov a doktorandov organizácie k 31.12.2017 B Projekty riešené v organizácii C Publikačná činnosť organizácie D Údaje o pedagogickej činnosti organizácie E Medzinárodná mobilita organizácie F Vedecko-popularizačná činnosť pracovníkov organizácie SAV Správa o činnosti organizácie SAV 1. Základné údaje o organizácii 1.1. Kontaktné údaje Názov: Astronomický ústav SAV Riaditeľ: Mgr. Martin Vaňko, PhD. Zástupca riaditeľa: Mgr. Peter Gömöry, PhD. Vedecký tajomník: Mgr. Marián Jakubík, PhD. Predseda vedeckej rady: RNDr. Luboš Neslušan, CSc. Člen snemu SAV: Mgr. Marián Jakubík, PhD. Adresa: Astronomický ústav SAV, 059 60 Tatranská Lomnica http://www.ta3.sk Tel.: 052/7879111 Fax: 052/4467656 E-mail: [email protected] Názvy a adresy detašovaných pracovísk: Astronomický ústav - Oddelenie medziplanetárnej hmoty Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 04 Bratislava Vedúci detašovaných pracovísk: Astronomický ústav - Oddelenie medziplanetárnej hmoty prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Section 1: MIT Facts and History
    1 MIT Facts and History Economic Information 9 Technology Licensing Office 9 People 9 Students 10 Undergraduate Students 11 Graduate Students 12 Degrees 13 Alumni 13 Postdoctoral Appointments 14 Faculty and Staff 15 Awards and Honors of Current Faculty and Staff 16 Awards Highlights 17 Fields of Study 18 Research Laboratories, Centers, and Programs 19 Academic and Research Affiliations 20 Education Highlights 23 Research Highlights 26 7 MIT Facts and History The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one nologies for artificial limbs, and the magnetic core of the world’s preeminent research universities, memory that enabled the development of digital dedicated to advancing knowledge and educating computers. Exciting areas of research and education students in science, technology, and other areas of today include neuroscience and the study of the scholarship that will best serve the nation and the brain and mind, bioengineering, energy, the envi- world. It is known for rigorous academic programs, ronment and sustainable development, informa- cutting-edge research, a diverse campus commu- tion sciences and technology, new media, financial nity, and its long-standing commitment to working technology, and entrepreneurship. with the public and private sectors to bring new knowledge to bear on the world’s great challenges. University research is one of the mainsprings of growth in an economy that is increasingly defined William Barton Rogers, the Institute’s founding pres- by technology. A study released in February 2009 ident, believed that education should be both broad by the Kauffman Foundation estimates that MIT and useful, enabling students to participate in “the graduates had founded 25,800 active companies.
    [Show full text]
  • Photometric Study of Two Near-Earth Asteroids in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Objects Catalog
    University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects January 2020 Photometric Study Of Two Near-Earth Asteroids In The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Objects Catalog Christopher James Miko Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Recommended Citation Miko, Christopher James, "Photometric Study Of Two Near-Earth Asteroids In The Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Objects Catalog" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 3287. https://commons.und.edu/theses/3287 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PHOTOMETRIC STUDY OF TWO NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS IN THE SLOAN DIGITAL SKY SURVEY MOVING OBJECTS CATALOG by Christopher James Miko Bachelor of Science, Valparaiso University, 2013 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota August 2020 Copyright 2020 Christopher J. Miko ii Christopher J. Miko Name: Degree: Master of Science This document, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree from the University of North Dakota, has been read by the Faculty Advisory Committee under whom the work has been done and is hereby approved. ____________________________________ Dr. Ronald Fevig ____________________________________ Dr. Michael Gaffey ____________________________________ Dr. Wayne Barkhouse ____________________________________ Dr. Vishnu Reddy ____________________________________ ____________________________________ This document is being submitted by the appointed advisory committee as having met all the requirements of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of North Dakota and is hereby approved.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Rivers Urban Park Contextual Framework Review and Preliminary Heritage Study
    1 TWO RIVERS URBAN PARK CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY HERITAGE STUDY Phase One Report Submitted by Melanie Attwell and Associates in association with ARCON Heritage and Design, and ACO Associates on behalf of NM & Associates Planners and Designers [email protected] 2 Caxton Close Oakridge 7806 021 7150330 First submitted: November 2015 Resubmitted: May 2016 2 Table of Contents List of Figures....................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 4 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Report Structure ....................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Brief and Scope of Work ......................................................................................................... 7 2. Limitations ....................................................................................................................................... 7 3. Location .........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Professor Peter Goldreich Member of the Board of Adjudicators Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Prize in Astronomy
    The Shaw Prize The Shaw Prize is an international award to honour individuals who are currently active in their respective fields and who have recently achieved distinguished and significant advances, who have made outstanding contributions in academic and scientific research or applications, or who in other domains have achieved excellence. The award is dedicated to furthering societal progress, enhancing quality of life, and enriching humanity’s spiritual civilization. Preference is to be given to individuals whose significant work was recently achieved and who are currently active in their respective fields. Founder's Biographical Note The Shaw Prize was established under the auspices of Mr Run Run Shaw. Mr Shaw, born in China in 1907, was a native of Ningbo County, Zhejiang Province. He joined his brother’s film company in China in the 1920s. During the 1950s he founded the film company Shaw Brothers (HK) Limited in Hong Kong. He was one of the founding members of Television Broadcasts Limited launched in Hong Kong in 1967. Mr Shaw also founded two charities, The Shaw Foundation Hong Kong and The Sir Run Run Shaw Charitable Trust, both dedicated to the promotion of education, scientific and technological research, medical and welfare services, and culture and the arts. ~ 1 ~ Message from the Chief Executive I warmly congratulate the six Shaw Laureates of 2014. Established in 2002 under the auspices of Mr Run Run Shaw, the Shaw Prize is a highly prestigious recognition of the role that scientists play in shaping the development of a modern world. Since the first award in 2004, 54 leading international scientists have been honoured for their ground-breaking discoveries which have expanded the frontiers of human knowledge and made significant contributions to humankind.
    [Show full text]
  • The Comet's Tale
    THE COMET’S TALE Newsletter of the Comet Section of the British Astronomical Association Volume 5, No 1 (Issue 9), 1998 May A May Day in February! Comet Section Meeting, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, 1998 February 14 The day started early for me, or attention and there were displays to correct Guide Star magnitudes perhaps I should say the previous of the latest comet light curves in the same field. If you haven’t day finished late as I was up till and photographs of comet Hale- got access to this catalogue then nearly 3am. This wasn’t because Bopp taken by Michael Hendrie you can always give a field sketch the sky was clear or a Valentine’s and Glynn Marsh. showing the stars you have used Ball, but because I’d been reffing in the magnitude estimate and I an ice hockey match at The formal session started after will make the reduction. From Peterborough! Despite this I was lunch, and I opened the talks with these magnitude estimates I can at the IOA to welcome the first some comments on visual build up a light curve which arrivals and to get things set up observation. Detailed instructions shows the variation in activity for the day, which was more are given in the Section guide, so between different comets. Hale- reminiscent of May than here I concentrated on what is Bopp has demonstrated that February. The University now done with the observations and comets can stray up to a offers an undergraduate why it is important to be accurate magnitude from the mean curve, astronomy course and lectures are and objective when making them.
    [Show full text]
  • Nrf/Saao/Slib/59/2020-21
    INVITATION TO BID THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF ANNUAL JOURNAL SUBSCRIPTIONS TO SAAO FOR A 60 MONTH PERIOD Bid Number: NRF/SAAO/SLIB/59/2020-21 Closing date: 6 April 2021 Time: 11H00 Bidder Name: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Bid Number: NRF/SAAO/SLIB/59/2020-21 Page 1 of 46 Ver. Standard 2018-6a TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE NRF ......................................................................................................................... PAGE 3 INTRODUCTION TO THE BUSINESS UNIT ..................................................................................................... PAGE 3 CONTEXT OF THIS PROCUREMENT NEED ................................................................................................... PAGE 3 PART A (FIRST ENVELOPE) PRE-QUALIFICATION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ................................................................................................ PAGE 4 DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................................... PAGE 4 CONTRACT PERIOD ................................................................................................................................ PAGE 11 PERFORMANCE/SERVICE LEVEL CONDITIONS .......................................................................................... PAGE 11 EVALUATION PROCESS ...............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Oriental Metrology and the Politics of Antiquity
    1 Oriental Metrology and the Politics of Antiquity in Nineteenth-century Survey Sciences Simon Schaffer University of Cambridge E-mail: [email protected] Argument Metrological techniques to establish shared quantitative measures have often been seen as signs of rational modernisation. The cases considered here show instead the close relation of such techniques with antiquarian and revivalist programmes under imperial regimes. Enterprises in survey sciences in Egypt in the wake of the French invasion of 1798 and in India during the East India Company’s revenue surveys involved the promotion of a new kind of oriental metrology designed to represent colonisers’ measures as restorations of ancient values to be applied to current systems of survey and measurement. Surveyors’ practice and hardware help clarify the significance of the complex historical and political functions of scientific standards. The balance of the paper discusses the survey work of later nineteenth century indigenous Egyptian astronomers at a conjuncture of major economic and political dislocation to explore the various versions of antiquity at stake in these metrological programmes. 2 Introduction: survey sciences and metrology’s invention “Egyptian genius always seems to take pleasure in veiling from the world the principle of its lovely creations, concealing it from profane eyes, perhaps so as better to give them a divine origin, keep them pure and guard them from time’s injuries. Thus one sees in use in Egypt, but without being able to understand the principle, a measurement system apparently crude but in fact the most exact of all known systems”: Mahmud al-Falaki, “The current Egyptian measurement system” (Mahmud 1873, 67) Metrological equipment relies on material measures that somehow embody agreed standards used by a specific community to help make its world knowable in quantitative form.
    [Show full text]
  • Board Voting Monday on Expansion Plan Another Option—Constructing a by Carter J
    OF MILLBURN AND SHORT HILLS Founded in 1888 Thursday, June 23, 1994 40 Cents Volume 108, Number 25 Board voting Monday on expansion plan Another option—constructing a By Carter J. Bennett new elementary school in the Oakey tract rather than at Gero The Board of Education has set 4 proposals before Board Education; Park does not appear to have broad Monday night as the time for its support among Board of Education selection of one of four plans members. which will provide for renovation The major difference in the two of existing buildings, additions to costs range from $37.5 million remaining options is that under some schools and the possible con' which was submitted in May. The * room. Also planned for the high increases the total cost of construc­ Although the property committee one a new elementary school struction of a new elementary original property, committee school would be a new 25,000 tion, the annual impact on tax­ has presented the board with four would be built in Gero Park school. The costs of the various proposal covered renovation work square foot gymnasium, a 6,000 payers will remain in the same area alternative expansion-renovation coupled with additions to the plans run from $37.5 million to at each of the four existing square foot addition which would as what was foreseen when the plans, statements from board mem­ Deerfield, Hartshorn and South $53.5 million. elementary schools plus the South provide new facilities for the school board’s property committee bers at this past Monday night’s Mountain Schools as well as the The four plans—or options— Mountain School, additions at school’s music program, the was limiting its proposal to the meeting indicated that two o f the high school.
    [Show full text]