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Issue 16 July 2008 An Observatory for Durham URHAM University Observatory, shortly after it opened in 1840. DAstronomical observations were made from the site for the remainder of the nineteenth century and continued into the twentieth. The building still survives, its external appearance largely unchanged (left). Astronomical activities have long since ceased, but meteorolog- ical observations continue to be made. Indeed, the site maintains the second longest continuous series of meteorological records of any UK university (after the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford). The fate of observatories which have outlived their usefulness for astronomical research was one of the topics discussed at a meeting organised last year by the RAS History and Heritage Committee. A report of this meeting, as well as much other material, appears inside. (The illustration above is reproduced courtesy of Roger Hutchins. Image at left courtesy Durham University Geography Department.) Editorial Clive Davenhall ELCOME to the July 2008 widely, any topic in the history of cant impact on our discipline. Until Wissue of the Newsletter. This astronomy. We encourage you to 2007 he was the Project Manager for issue sees a return to our normal contribute. Longer contributions, the NASA Astrophysics Data fare, after the ‘Space Age Special’ of such as articles and book reviews, System (ADS) and led the small no. 15. It is also something of a also continue to be welcome, of team which developed this biblio- bumper issue, partly because of course. graphic service. From modest begin- material deferred from last time. One piece of good news, which we nings it has become a comprehen- Less happily it is also somewhat report on p7, is that the SHA’s Vice- sive on-line index of the astronomi- delayed, for which we apologise. President Dr Michael Hoskin has cal literature, publicly available free The reasons for the delay include the been awarded an Honorary of charge. The enlightened policy of size and complexity of the issue and, Fellowship of the RAS. Dr Hoskin is seeking to secure coverage of full more importantly, the unwelcome an eminent historian of astronomy runs of journals, stretching back in intrusion of external circumstances. and it is most gratifying to see him some cases to the nineteenth or even This issue sees the return of our being honoured in this way. Another eighteenth centuries, has made the letter column (see p35). The recipient was Dr Günther Eichorn ADS an invaluable tool for histori- Newsletter is keen to publish letters. who received the RAS Award for cal studies as well as for contempo- Possible topics include any aspect of Service to Astronomy. Dr Eichorn is rary research. We extend our the SHA, including its activities, perhaps less well-known to SHA warmest congratulations to both Dr projects and organisation, and, more members, but he has had a signifi- Hoskin and Dr Eichorn. Society News Kevin Kilburn, Gilbert Satterthwaite and Peter Hingley Joint meeting held at how best to utilise the generous SHA meetings in 2008 bequest by Mr Alan Cox. Knowing Chetham’s Library The Society will hold the following that Mr Cox was anxious to ensure meetings during the remainder of The first SHA event of 2008 was the future continuance of the 2008. held on Saturday 29 March. It was a Society’s activities, Council has joint meeting with the Manchester decided that a large part of the Sat. 2 August. Summer Picnic to be Astronomical Society and the North bequest will be invested to generate held at Marlborough College, West Group of Astronomical accessible income for future projects Wiltshire, SN8 1PA. Societies and was held in the his- whilst securing the capital against Sat. 4 October. Autumn Conference toric Chetham’s Library in central inflation. The Society is also pursu- at the Birmingham and Midland Manchester. The event was fully ing the matter of obtaining charita- Institute, Margaret Street, booked and on the day proved a ble status, as previously approved by Birmingham, B3 3BS. great success, with a series of fasci- the membership, which will also be nating talks presented in the magnif- of assistance towards this end. In all cases see below for further icent surroundings of Chetham’s Council has further decided that details. Tickets can usually be Library. A report will appear in the major projects financed from the obtained prior to the meeting from next issue of the Newsletter. bequest will have Mr Cox’s name the Treasurer, Ken Goward at 14, associated with them, and is already Keightley Way, Tuddenham St The Alan Cox Bequest considering a number of possible Martin, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9BJ. Further to the announcement in projects. These matters were dis- Cheques should be made payable to Newsletter no. 15 (December 2007, cussed at the recent AGM (see the ‘Society for the History of p2), Council has been considering below). Astronomy.’ Page 2 SHA Newsletter Issue 16 July 2008 Annual General Meeting and Spring An early laboratory Conference spectroscope (from R. S. Estey, The Use The SHA AGM and Spring of the Spencer Conference was held successfully at Spectrometer, 1938). the Institute of Astronomy (IOA), The SHA Spring Cambridge on Saturday 17 May. Conference discussed The AGM was specially extended to the early development allow proper discussion of the Cox of astronomical bequest. The greater part of the spectroscopy. meeting was devoted to the confer- ence, whose theme was William Huggins and the Development of Astronomical Spectroscopy. Sir William Huggins (1824-1910) eighty miles west of London and and his wife Lady Margaret Huggins Summer Picnic eight miles south of Junction Fifteen (1848-1915) were pioneers of astro- The Summer Picnic will be held on on the M4. Further details are avail- nomical spectroscopy who made a Saturday 2 August at Marlborough able on the College’s Web site, number of significant contributions College in Wiltshire by the kind http://www.marlboroughcollege.org to the subject, not in least the appli- invitation of Charles Barclay, who For the Blackett Observatory see cation of photography. The develop- teaches physics there. Marlborough http://www.blackettobservatory.org. ment of astronomical spectroscopy hosts the Blackett Observatory was fundamental to the rise of the which has a ten-inch Cooke refrac- ‘new’ astronomy of astrophysics in tor dating from 1860 (see the Autumn Conference the later nineteenth century to com- Newsletter no. 9, December 2005, The SHA Autumn Conference will plement traditional positional pp7-8 and The Antiquarian held on Saturday 4 October. As astronomy. Astronomer, 3, 2006, pp11-18). The usual, the venue will be the The Hugginses were amateurs in Observatory will be open for inspec- Birmingham and Midland Institute the British tradition who worked tion during the picnic. in central Birmingham. The theme from their private observatory in Members should bring their own will be A Review of Members’ Work, Tulse Hill, South London. It is par- lunch; catering will not be provided. allowing members to present any ticularly appropriate that a meeting Guests may be introduced. A flyer projects on which they have worked. about them should be held at the with further details and an applica- Offers of contributions are invited IOA. Observing at Tulse Hill ended tion form is enclosed with this and should be sent to the Secretary, in 1908 because of increasing light Newsletter. Tickets are available Kevin Kilburn (contact details on pollution and the telescopes were from Ken Goward (see above). p48). Tickets cost £12.00 (SHA transferred to the Cambridge Solar The address of the College is: members) or £15.00 (all others) and Physics Observatory, where some Marlborough College, Wiltshire, will be available from Ken Goward remain to this day. Subsequently SN8 1PA. It is on the A4, about (see above) in due course. material relating to the Hugginses has been found at the IOA on sever- Present your work at the Autumn al occasions (see p46). The speakers at the meeting Conference included David Dewhirst (My Use of The 2008 SHA Autumn Conference will held at the Birmingham and Huggins’ Instruments in the Early Midland Institute on Saturday 4 October. The theme will be A Review 1950s), Peter Hingley (The Place of of Members’ Work. Any work which falls within the Society’s remit the Hugginses in the Development of may be presented. The meeting is a good opportunity to present recent- Stellar Astrophysics), Derek Jones ly completed work, interim reports on projects still in progress or other (Stellar Spectra) and Ian Elliott material. You are encouraged to contribute and share the fruits of your (Grubbs of Dublin — Victorian labours with other members. Talks can last from twenty minutes to one Entrepreneurs). hour including question time. Offers of contributions are welcome and A full report will appear in a subse- should be sent to the SHA Secretary, Kevin Kilburn (email quent issue of the Newsletter. [email protected], tel. 01663 740832, postal address on p48). SHA Newsletter Issue 16 July 2008 Page 3 Councillors attend the Council meeting held in the premises of the RAS on Saturday 23 February. From left to right: Roger Jones, Peter Hingley, Mark Hurn, Ken Goward, Gilbert Satterthwaite, Kevin Johnson, Reg Withey, Jerry Grover, Kevin Kilburn and (partly visible) Madeline Cox. Joint meeting in above) in due course. Further details they will have to pay the standard and an application form will be cir- admission charge (currently £15 or 2009 culated with a future issue of the £5 for students) if they are not On Saturday 28 March 2009 the Newsletter. The RMetS Web site at Fellows of the RAS. The SHA will hold a joint meeting with http://www.rmets.org/ includes meeting is being the History Group of the Royal details of its History Group.
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