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Home , Evershed (crater), Martin Rees, Radcliffe Observatory, Tycho Brahe

Issue 9 – December 2005

Tycho ’s observatory at

In 1576 Brahe (1546-1601) established the first observations. This view of the observatory appeared in modern European observatory at Uraniborg on the island Tycho’s Astronomiae Instauratae Mechanicae, of Hven, close to Copenhagen, and subsequently did his published in 1602. Dr Allan presented the most important work there, including pursuing an story of Uraniborg at the Society’s recent Autumn extensive programme of stellar and planetary Conference. A report appears inside. from Hill to Mt Hamilton, and Editorial there is much more in the following David Rayner pages too. Sadly, all good things come to an end and even after Earlier this year we published in covers nearly 105º of latitude and building this into another bumper Newsletter (no. 7, June 2005, pp 9- almost 30 countries in length. issue we have had to carry quite a 11) Jim Smith’s article, The Cape to bit of material over. Cairo survey arc wherein Jim We also bring you Clive envisaged that the surviving stations Davenhall’s report on the SHA With luck, sweat and probably, the of a triangulation net stretching from Autumn Conference including tears of a number of SHA the Black Sea to the top of Norway snippets from Allan Chapman’s talk, volunteers, this issue should be with might be given UNESCO Tycho Brahe and Uraniborg – the you before the Christmas holiday. recognition as a World Heritage First Modern Observatory. Wayne Find a comfortable chair, your Site. Known as the Struve Geodetic Orchiston brings news of distance reading glasses and a glass of your Arc, the remaining elements have learning from the James favourite seasonal tipple and enjoy. indeed been granted WHS status and University, Australia that would in this issue of the Newsletter we allow one to graduate with a history All of us on the SHA team wish you bring Jim’s revelations about this of ‘major’. Also in this a very enjoyable holiday and a portion of a survey arc that in total issue Roger Jones takes us on a trip happy and prosperous New Year. Society news Stuart Williams and Clive Davenhall

Remarkable Council meeting in Selsey

The Council of the SHA met on Saturday 12 November 2005 in a marathon six hour meeting at the home of Sir , one of the Society’s Honorary Vice Presidents. Sir Patrick, arguably the best-known and most popular astronomy broadcaster and author ever, very kindly invited Council into his home, ‘Farthings’, in Selsey, West Sussex, for its last meeting of the year.

The ‘’ of and author of more than seventy books SHA Council in Sir Patrick Moore's study at ‘Farthings’, Selsey. which have inspired and supported Left to right (rear): Reg Withey, Roger Jones, Peter Hingley, Mark Hurn, Ken Goward many thousands of astronomers and Bill Barton. Left to right (front): Stuart Williams, Sir Patrick Moore, Gilbert since the early 1950s hosted the Satterthwaite and Madeline Cox. meeting in his study, the location of itself. Council cannot thank Sir so many recent television Patrick too much for his welcome, broadcasts. Those attending the his hospitality, and his presence at meeting also had the privilege of the meeting, which was greatly meeting Sir Patrick’s cats and of appreciated. seeing his famous in the garden of Farthings, not to mention New Councillor co-opted the historic three inch brass refractor which was the first owned SHA member Bill Barton has been by the now legendary amateur co-opted to the SHA Council to astronomer. Council has met several assist Ken Goward following Ken’s times at historic professional recent illness. Enthusiastically observatories. Now they have met at welcomed onto Council during the meeting in Selsey, Bill is an amateur the cornerstone of British amateur Newly co-opted SHA Councillor astronomy, an historic event in astronomer and historian of many Bill Barton

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 2 December 2005 years standing and is well known in has reported regularly to Council on Conference. Theme: Women in the SHA. Subject to work progress with the second issue and Astronomy. Venue: Institute of commitments, Bill, who joins the has received their full support. With Astronomy, University of other recent additions to Council, Dr the aid of Assistant Editor Kevin Cambridge. Date and venue TBC. Reg Withey and Peter Hingley, Johnson, and a series of excellent hopes to take on additional duties papers contributed by members, Reg End of May/Beginning of July: for the Society in due course. aims to meet the high standard SHA Summer Picnic. A venue is already set by issue 1, which was currently being negotiated and the Generous donation by edited by Callum Potter and John date is therefore dependent on that, Honorary Vice President Woodruff. but as usual should be a Saturday near our founding date. There is a Sir Patrick Moore, Honorary Vice Autumn Conference 2005 possibility of an extra event President of the SHA has made a contingent on the above. generous donation of £100 to the The SHA Autumn Conference, Society, which has supported the Astronomers and Observatories, Saturday 7 October 2006: Autumn mailing of this issue of the SHA held at the Birmingham & Midland Conference. Theme: Instruments Newsletter. Sir Patrick made the Institute on 8 October was a great and Imaging. Venue: John Lee spontaneous donation during the success as an event, with some Lecture Theatre and Gallery Room, SHA Council meeting at his home in excellent research presented and Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Selsey (see above). The high speakers on a wide variety of topics Margaret Street, Birmingham. Date production and mailing costs of the typifying the kind of work the and venue confirmed, times TBA. SHA’s publications take up most of Society was set up to encourage and the Society’s income and it is support. A full report appears later Council meetings in 2006 sometimes difficult to meet these in this Newsletter. It was, however, costs from the Society’s modest not as well supported by members as In addition to the AGM, Council last year and proposes to meet on the following consequently made a dates and locations, at 1 pm, subject small loss financially. to confirmation of venues. This deficit is unfortunate, as such Saturday 11 February 2006, Royal events must be self- Astronomical Society, Burlington supporting if they are House, Piccadilly, London. to continue. Sadly SHA Treasurer Ken Saturday 29 July 2006, Goward was unable Museum, Museum Gardens, . to attend due to illness but is now on Saturday 11 November, Sir Robert the mend. Many Ball Library, Birmingham & thanks to all those Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Sir Patrick Moore presents SHA Chairman Gilbert who were able to Birmingham. Satterthwaite with a cheque for £100 attend, those who subscriptions. Council unanimously assisted with running While Council meetings are not thanked Sir Patrick for both his the event, our speakers and those Society events as such, any member financial support on this occasion, booksellers, the BMI and other who wishes to speak to Council and his even more valuable moral societies and organisations who also formally on a matter relating to the support, the latter of which in supported the SHA on what was an Society is welcome to attend, particular has helped greatly in excellent day at the BMI. subject to prior arrangement with the maintaining the morale of Council Secretary. Due to the small size of and the Society in its formative Advance announcement of meeting rooms, numbers of visitors years. events for 2006 may be restricted. Members are of course also welcome to speak to The Antiquarian Astronomer Council has decided to stage the Councillors at any time during our issue 2 following events for 2006, subject to normal events, and are encouraged confirmation of venues and dates to write c/o The Secretary or direct to individual Councillors if they As you read this you should have where noted. Further information have any comments, complaints, received issue 2 of the Society’s will be given in the next issue of the compliments, suggestions, questions acclaimed annual journal The Newsletter. or information they would like to Antiquarian Astronomer, which will draw to the attention of Council. be distributed with this issue of the Saturday 20 May 2006: Annual Newsletter. Editor Dr Reg Withey General Meeting and Spring

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 3 December 2005 SHA introduced to Duke of and supports our Autumn in Edinburgh Conference by special arrangements Wales… for the use of rooms and facilities. In By the time you read this, SHA return, the Society has enabled the SHA member Bryn Jones maintains Secretary Stuart Williams will have Institute to begin a return to some of some excellent Web pages about the met Prince Philip during a special the scientific activities that were history of astronomy in Wales. Royal Visit to the Birmingham & once a major part of its work in the These pages include a great deal of Midland Institute. The visit on 22 nineteenth and early twentieth useful information, including a November is taking place as the centuries, complementing the version of Chapter 24 of the Revd BMI celebrates the one hundred and important musical and cultural work J.S. ’ Seryddiaeth a fiftieth Anniversary of the laying of of the modern BMI. The SHA is Seryddwyr, published in Welsh in the foundation stone of the original delighted to be associated with the 1923. This chapter is the best source building by Prince Albert, Prince BMI and strongly supports the aims for the history of astronomy in the Consort and husband to Queen of the Institute. Principality up to this date. An Victoria. Groups working with and English translation by Rhys Morris within the BMI, including the SHA, JAH2 of the University of Bristol is also have been invited to lay on a small provided. See URL: exhibit at the Institute on the day, You are reminded that the discount http://brynjones.members.beeb.net/ and individual representatives will on subscriptions to the Journal of wastronhist/astronwaleshist.html be seen by the Duke of Edinburgh Astronomical History and Heritage and his entourage. Pictures of the (JAH2) which was previously … and in South Africa SHA at work and at play, as well as offered to SHA members is no books and documents from the longer available, following the take- The historical section of the Society’s Sir Robert Ball Library at over of the journal by James Cook Astronomical Society of Southern the BMI, will be on display, and it is University (JCU), Queensland. Africa maintains an extensive set of hoped that Prince Philip will accept Anyone who availed themselves of Web pages about the development a complimentary copy of The the discount is asked to let Clive of astronomy in southern Africa. See Antiquarian Astronomer. Davenhall know (contact details are URL: on the back page) as it will assist in http://assa.saao.ac.za/html/39_histori 2 BMI continues special discussions with the JAH editors. In calsection.html. Also, the African relationship with SHA the meantime, some information on Astronomical History Symposium 2 JAH and other history of astronomy was recently held at the headquarters The Birmingham & Midland activities at JCU appears later in this of the South African Astronomical Institute, to which the SHA is Newsletter. We also carry an Observatory (formerly the Royal affiliated, will continue to support obituary for John Perdrix, founding Observatory of the Cape) in Cape 2 the Society in 2006 and for the editor of JAH . Town as part of the celebrations of foreseeable future. The Institute the opening of the South African provides the SHA with free premises Large Telescope (SALT). We hope to house the Sir Robert Ball Library, to carry a report in a future issue of the Newsletter.

The distribution of SHA members Clive Davenhall

Roger Jones has produced a rather Africa and the United States. As splendid map (opposite) showing the usual, a list of members who have geographical distribution of the recently joined appears on the back Society’s members in the UK. The page. map was exhibited at the recent Autumn Conference and has also been displayed at various other events. It is current for 6 October 2005. In addition to those shown The distribution of SHA members in the UK there are members in the Channel on 6 October 2005. Councillors and Isles, Australia, Canada, Eire, Honorary Presidents are shown with black pins and other members with red (grey Holland, Japan, Portugal, South here) ones

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 4 December 2005 Copernicus’ grave found? Clive Davenhall

Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543) lost. Now a team led by Jerzy spent most of his life as a canon of Gassowski, head of the Institute of the cathedral chapter of Frauenberg Archaeology and Anthropology in (now Frombork) in Poland. He was Pultusk, central Poland, believe that buried in the cathedral precincts, but they have found Copernicus’ the precise location of his grave was remains, following a year-long search of tombs under the cathedral floor.

The grave was in a poor condition and only the skull and some remains have been preserved. However, a A reconstruction of the face of the man restoration by police forensic found beneath Frauenberg cathedral experts at the central crime laboratory in Warsaw has attempting to locate descendants of established that the skull is of a man relatives of Copernicus for of approximately the correct age. additional DNA identification. See They have also produced a inter alia URL: reconstruction that closely resembles http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/- Copernicus’ self-portrait, including /1/hi/world/europe/4405958.stm Nicholas Copernicus a broken nose and scar above the left eye. Gassowski’s team are now The Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage Wayne Orchiston, Editor, JAH 2

The Journal of Astronomical Chapman, A, 2003. Porters, of the Fletcher Telescope. 4(1): 29- History and Heritage (JAH2) was watchmen, and the crime of William 42. launched in 1998, and is now Sayers: the non-scientific staff of the produced by the Centre for Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in Pasachoff, J.M, 1999. Halley as an Astronomy at James Cook Victorian times. 6(1): 27-36. eclipse pioneer: his maps and University (Townsville, Australia). observations of the total eclipses of It is published twice-yearly, in June Dick, S.J, 1998. Observation and 1715 and 1724. 2(1): 39-54. and December. interpretation of the Leonid meteors over the last millennium. 1(1): 1-20. Perkins, A, 2001. ‘Extraneous JAH2 features review papers, government business’: the research papers, short Hughes, D.W, 1998. The historical as government communications, IAU reports, and investigation of cometary scientist: George Airy and his work book reviews. All papers are brightness. 1(2): 123-133. on the commissions of state and refereed prior to publication. Whilst other bodies, 1838-1880. 4(2): 143- a wide range of papers have been Hughes, D.W, 2001. Six stages in 154. published since 1998, those likely to the history of the . be of special interest to SHA 4(1): 15-28. Satterthwaite, G.E, 2001. Airy and members include: positional astronomy. 4(2): 101-113. Hughes, D.W, 2004. Bright Brück, M.T, 1998. Mary Ackworth and the history of stellar astronomy. Satterthwaite, G.E, 2001. Airy’s Evershed née Orr (1867-1949), 7(2): 103-114 transit circle. 4(2): 115-141. solar physicist and scholar. 1(1): 45-59. Mestel, L, 2004. Arthur Stanley Satterthwaite, G.E, 2003. Airy’s : pioneer of stellar zenith telescopes and ‘the birth-star Brück, M.T, 2003. An astronomer structure theory. 7(1): 65-73. of modern astronomy’. 6(1): 13-26. calls: extracts from the diaries of Charles Piazzi Smyth. 6(1): 37-45. Orchiston, W, 2001. The English Stephenson, F.R., and Green, D.A, equatorial mounting and the history 2003. Was the of AD

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 5 December 2005 1054 reported in European history. Andrews, Mary Brück, Allan AU$77 for institutions. A 6(1): 46-52. Chapman and Richard Stephenson. subscription form is available on the Unsolicited papers and book reviews web site. All journals are airmailed In addition, SHA stalwarts, Mary are always welcome, but when to overseas subscribers. For further Brück and Clive Davenhall regularly preparing them please refer to the details please refer to our Web site contribute book reviews. ‘Guide to Authors’ on our Web site: or feel free to contact the author at www.jcu.edu.au/astronomy/JAH2 [email protected] Overseeing the production of JAH2 is an international Editorial Board The 2006 annual subscription is whose members include David AU$44:00 for individuals and History of astronomy at James Cook University Wayne Orchiston

The Centre for Astronomy at James in 2005, and we already have nine for Astronomy is located at JCU’s Cook University (JCU), Australia, students enrolled in this area, four main campus in Townsville, the was founded in 2003, and is an from the USA, four from Australia third-largest city in the state of exciting new initiative in world and one from Lebanon. The JCU Queensland. A vibrant, attractive, astronomy. With a rapidly-growing doctorate is a research degree, and coastal centre, Townsville is the staff, it offers a range of the current students are researching administrative capital of the postgraduate astronomy a variety of topics. northern half of Queensland, and in qualifications that can be obtained addition to the University and state by off-campus, part-time, Internet- Three staff members are presently and federal government based study. See involved in the history of astronomy departments, it hosts air force and www.jcu.edu.au/astronomy area: Associate-Professor Graeme army bases. It is close to the Great White (Head of the Centre for Barrier Reef, sugar cane plantations, Of most interest to SHA members is Astronomy), Professor Richard tropical rain forest and historic the of Astronomy, a Stephenson (Adjunct appointment) mining towns, and offers a wide coursework degree that involves six and Dr Wayne Orchiston (Senior range of sporting and cultural semesters of part-time study. From Lecturer). However, we can also call activities for enthusiasts. 2006, students can select history of on an extensive network of astronomy for their final unit. This international colleagues to serve as Apart from its postgraduate history combination of coursework and two advisors for research projects, and in of astronomy programmes, the research projects allows them to this way we are able to Centre for Astronomy at JCU now graduate with a history of astronomy accommodate a wide range of hosts the Journal of Astronomical ‘major’. For those who wish to different thesis topics. History and Heritage (see proceed further, the JCU Masters www.jcu.edu.au/astronomy/JAH2). provides entry to the JCU doctoral Whilst the JCU masters and doctoral For further information feel free to programme in history of astronomy. programmes are designed for part- contact the author at time off-campus studies, full-time [email protected]. History of astronomy was only on-campus enrolment is also introduced as a JCU doctoral option possible. In this context, the Centre

SHA autumn conference Clive Davenhall

The second SHA Autumn made my usual early start from exhibitors in the nearby Gallery Conference was held on 8 October Edinburgh and the day was overcast Room, both conveniently close to this year at the Birmingham & and damp with drizzle. However, in the Society’s Sir Robert Ball Midland Institute (BMI) in central a welcome break with tradition I Library. This year the meeting was Birmingham. The theme of this arrived in time for the pre-meeting attended by just shy of forty people. year’s conference was Astronomers refreshments, despite my flight and Observatories (a title which being delayed by half an hour. The Proceedings began with an irresistibly recalls the definition of meeting opened at 11:00 am, with introduction and welcome by the an observatory in Ambrose Bierce’s the programme proper starting at SHA Chairman Gilbert The Devil’s Dictionary as: ‘a place 11:30. The talks were given in the Satterthwaite. He noted that the where astronomers conjecture away John Lee Lecture Theatre in the Astronomer Royal, Sir , the guesses of their predecessors’). I basement, with refreshments and had recently been made a Peer of the

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 6 December 2005 Realm, which was welcome (now usually known as the Leonids) During this work he had recognition for astronomy. Turning being discussed at the first meeting. unexpectedly discovered that he was to Society matters, he expressed The Society built an Observatory in related to previous owners of the thanks to the Treasurer, Kenneth 1909. It is located just off telescope. Many of Mr Barclay’s Goward, who unfortunately could Hampstead Heath, some 350 foot ancestors had been Quakers, and it not be present because of illness, above sea level. The Observatory transpired that several of them had both for his efforts in organising the originally housed an eight-inch been astronomers. He had not yet meeting and more generally for the reflector, though in 1928 this was researched all the figures, but one Society. He thanked Stuart Williams replaced with a six-inch Cooke example was Robert Barclay (born for shouldering much of the refractor, which is still in use and, 1758) who, with his wife Ann, made additional burden of organising the again, is excellent for planetary a couple considered glamorous by meeting and Reg Withey for work. An annexe was added to the Quaker standards. He constructed an stepping in to assist with the Observatory in 1934. observatory adjacent to his house in organisation. He announced that, Clapham, from which he made his following the constitutional changes Throughout its lifetime the own observations. Robert Barclay’s agreed at the Spring AGM, two new Observatory has had an active cousin Thomas Colinson Councillors had now been co-opted: observing programme and hosted corresponded with William Herschel Reg Withey and Bill Barton (their public events. Membership has and was obviously at the heart of contact details appear on the back declined since the 1980s, but the astronomical developments during page). Finally he thanked the BMI Observatory remains active. Indeed, his time. for their hospitality. Loughton and Hampstead are the two most active observatories in the However, most of the talk was about The first talk was by Jerry Workman London region in terms of the Joseph Gurney Barclay (1816- who spoke on the Hampstead number of public observing sessions 1898), a banker who was one of the Observatory and Loughton they hold. founders of Barclay’s Bank. In 1860 Observatory. Mr Workman had long he bought a ten-inch refractor by ties with both observatories and was The next talk was Astronomy in the Thomas Cooke and Sons, which he now a demonstrator at both sites. Family – J.G. Barclay and the 1860 used to observe from his home in Loughton Astronomical Society, ten-inch Cooke by Charles Barclay. Leyton, Essex. In addition to based in Loughton on the outskirts Mr Barclay taught physics at observing himself he also employed of London, was founded in 1968 by Marlborough College, having two professional astronomers, a group of people who had attended previously pursued Hermann Romberg and Charles a mirror-making class. This group research. At Marlborough he had Talmage. In 1885 the ten-inch was built a sixteen-inch Newtonian been involved in attempts to restore given to the Radcliffe Observatory telescope and then an the Blackett Observatory, belonging in . It was used for double- Observatory to house it (the dome to the College, and the ten-inch star, and planetary work in was lifted into place by members of Cooke refractor which it contains. both Leyton and Oxford. Indeed, at a local weightlifting class). The Observatory is in the grounds of Loughton Hall, a historical listed building which used to be owned by Essex County Council but is now in the hands of Loughton College and is little used. In May 1980 an annexe was added, which gave additional work and storage space.

Recently the sixteen-inch has been replaced with an equatorially mounted six-inch refractor. Though the new telescope has a substantially smaller light-grasp, it produces sharper images and is much easier to use. It is ideal for planetary work.

The Hampstead Scientific Society has a rather longer history, having been founded in 1899. It was interested in astronomy from the Joseph Barclay’s ten-inch Cooke refractor, now restored, in its dome at the Blackett beginning; ‘The November Meteors’ Observatory, Marlborough College

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 7 December 2005 Leyton Joseph Barclay completed The next talk was a presidential Struve’s catalogue of double stars. address by Allan Chapman, who gave his usual eloquent and In 1935 the Radcliffe Observatory informed presentation on Tycho relocated to the clearer skies of Brahe and Uraniborg – the First South Africa. The ten-inch was Modern Observatory. Tycho Brahe donated to Marlborough College, (1546-1601), the last great naked- where it was housed in its present eye observer, was one of the dome, known as the ‘Blackett principal figures of Observatory’, and used for many astronomy and his story is well- years. In 1997 the telescope was known. Both his parents were renovated by Norman Walker descended from eminent Danish (retired from the Royal Greenwich aristocratic families. Unusually for Observatory). The Observatory someone of his background, he was reopened in 2002 and now has an interested in astronomy from an extensive public outreach early age. In the sixteenth century programme. aristocrats did not attend university and, as was normal amongst his Following Mr Barclay’s talk there peers, he was educated by tutors and was an extended break for lunch, Charles Grover and the Merz telescope a tour of the Courts of Europe. with opportunities to inspect both at the Rousdon Observatory in about Tycho became convinced of the the Sir Robert Ball Library and the 1910. Grover observed with this desirability of founding a permanent telescope for thirty-six years stands of the various exhibitors. astronomical observatory, where English Mechanic newspaper. He systematic observations could be After lunch the meeting resumed also corresponded with the Revd conducted. The usefulness of such with another speaker who was a T.W. Webb and other astronomers an enterprise was reinforced by his descendent of his subject. Jerry of the day. In 1860 he moved to observation of a ‘new star’ on 11 Grover spoke on his great, great Clapham in London to work with February 1572. This object is now grandfather, Charles Grover – Sixty- the instrument maker John usually known as ‘Tycho’s ’. Three Years an Astronomical Browning. He was invited to join a Observer. The principal source Royal Geographical Society Perhaps surprisingly, Tycho found material for Charles Grover was his expedition led by Captain William backing for his idea. He persuaded autobiography (from whose title the Morris of the Royal Engineers to King Frederic of , a talk’s title was derived): Fifty Years Brisbane in Queensland, Australia to personal friend, to found an an Astronomical Observer. This observe the 1882 transit of Venus. Observatory. In 1576 Frederic gave source is complemented by volume This expedition was to be Tycho the island of Hven, near two of his observing log, which was accompanied by Mr Cuthbert Peek Copenhagen in the Sound, as a fief. discovered by chance in 2002. as an independent observer and There Tycho established his (Strictly speaking this volume is a Grover was invited to join as Mr Observatory, Uraniborg (a mixture fair copy written up after the event, Peek’s assistant. The expedition was of Latin and Danish meaning ‘star rather than notes made at the clouded out, but Grover made town’). Frederic remained a telescope.) several useful contacts. On his generous patron and the Observatory return to the UK he was appointed Charles Grover was born in 1842 in astronomer at Peek’s private Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the son observatory on his estate at of a shoemaker. However, both his Rousdon, Devon. At Rousdon he parents died when he was young and undertook an extensive observing he was apprenticed to a brush- programme, particularly maker. His interest in astronomy concentrating on variable stars, was stimulated by ’s comet of whose brightness he estimated using 1858. Shortly afterwards he bought Argelander’s method. The results of his first telescope, from Josiah T. the first fifteen years of Rousdon Slugg. Slugg specialised in variable star observations were affordable telescopes and Grover edited and published by H.H. Turner may have seen his advertisement in in 1904. Grover had some thirty-two the monthly periodical The letters published in the English Astronomical Register. Grover Mechanic. He died in 1921. His became an enthusiastic observer and papers and the Rousdon Observatory a regular correspondent of The telescope were acquired by Durham Astronomical Register and the University. Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 8 December 2005 undertook an extensive programme it was actually a significant of both stellar and planetary achievement which reconciled observations. It observed the first contemporary astronomical complete new western observations with Aristotelian since Ptolemy’s Almagest over a physics. Tycho’s system only really thousand years earlier (though became untenable with the work of Ulugh Begh in Samarkand had , Huygens and others as late compiled an independent catalogue as the 1660s. between 1420 and 1437, see Newsletters no. 2, May 2003, pp7-8 At Uraniborg Tycho basically ran a and no. 7, June 2005, pp14-15). Court. In addition to making astronomical observations, his However, when Frederic died in assistants were expected to have the 1588 the patronage ceased, and the usual run of courtly Observatory closed shortly accomplishments, such as being afterwards. Tycho left Denmark in skilled dancers or lutanists. In all 1597 and two years later found a about sixty assistants passed through new patron in the Holy Roman Uraniborg and they subsequently Emperor, Rudolph II. Tycho was disseminated Tycho’s ideas appointed Imperial Mathematician throughout Europe. For example, to Rudolph’s Court in , where one would later become Court became his assistant. Tycho Physician to James VI and I. A drawing of James Nasmyth’s twenty- died unexpectedly in 1601. Kepler inch telescope succeeded to the post of Imperial Most of the instruments used at Mathematician and produced the Uraniborg are lost: they were largely large telescopes in the nineteenth from Tycho’s destroyed or dispersed when the century. In Nasmyth’s case it was a observations. observatory closed. Some of twenty-inch telescope, built around Tycho’s instruments do survive, but 1845, from which he observed at his Tycho’s contributions to astronomy they are mostly smaller, portable home, Fireside. In 1849 Nasmyth were enormous. In Uraniborg he ones from his time in Prague. There had plans for a five-foot telescope essentially invented the modern is a postscript to the story of which would have been the second European observatory as a working Uraniborg. In the seventeenth largest in the world. However, he institution with a systematic century the Jesuits established a abandoned the project when he approach to astronomical mission to China. Father Ferdinand retired to Kent in 1856. observation and a continuous Verbiest, SJ (1623-1688) replicated programme of work. Previously Tycho’s Observatory at the Chinese Nasmyth grew up at 47, York Place, observations were carried out Imperial Court. By 1670 Tycho’s Edinburgh, the youngest child of a wherever the observer lived and astronomy was well-established in large family. He was apprenticed in were made on a one-off, ad hoc, China and used to reform the London and Edinburgh, and later basis, as needed. Similarly Tycho Chinese calendar. Unlike Uraniborg, started his own engineering business had a systematic approach to the the instruments of the Imperial in Manchester. Later he moved to analysis of observational errors. He Observatory still survive. Patricroft, then on the outskirts of was also responsible for Manchester. improvements in instrumentation, Following Dr Chapman’s talk there such as the -free sight. was a break for refreshments. The Mr Kilburn presented considerable meeting then resumed with the final research which convincingly located Moreover, his contributions also contribution, The Lost Gardens of Fireside immediately adjacent to extended to more theoretical or Fireside, by Kevin Kilburn. This Nasmyth’s factory at Patricroft. This philosophical matters. Specifically, talk was about the Scottish engineer work also revealed that Nasmyth’s he was the first astronomer to and astronomer James Nasmyth biography is not always reliable. For address the Copernican debate (1808-1890) and particularly Mr example, it downplays the role of his observationally rather than Kilburn’s attempt to track down the brother and family in his early philosophically. The ‘Tychonic exact location of his home, Fireside, career. Also, Mr Kilburn had system’ (in which the Sun and in Patricroft, Manchester, where gleaned much information by revolve around the , but the Nasmyth lived between 1836 and contact and collaboration with local, other revolve around the 1856. and other, historians outside the Sun) is often treated dismissively astronomy tradition, and he these days as an uncomfortable Nasmyth is a well-known figure. He emphasised the usefulness of such compromise between the Ptolemaic was one of the four ‘grand amateur’ contacts. and Copernican systems. However, astronomers who built their own

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 9 December 2005 For further information on Joseph Barclay see also: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~ipswich/ Observatory/Leyton.htm

Barbara Slater has recently published a biography of Charles Grover, The Astronomer of Rousdon (2005, Courseware Publications: Bury St Edmunds). We hope to carry a review in the March 2006 issue of the Newsletter.

A paper by Kevin Kilburn describing his researches into the location of James Nasmyth’s home ‘Fireside’ appears in issue 2 of The Antiquarian Astronomer.

James Nasmyth’s Autobiography is Barbara and Keith Slater at the Autumn Conference, promoting Mrs Slater’s recent available on-line at several locations biography of Charles Grover, The Astronomer of Rousdon. Behind them are (left to (including one contributed by SHA right) Jerry Grover, Kevin Kilburn and Martin Lunn (with Lanyard). Behind Jerry Grover member Eric Hutton), for example: and in a white shirt is Sam George (Federation of Astronomical Societies) http://www.naesmyth.com/bio/. Following Mr Kilburn’s talk Gilbert Further information There is also a print copy in the Satterthwaite closed the meeting. He Society’s Library. thanked Stuart Williams again, Loughton Astronomical Society: particularly for his efforts during the http://las-astro.org.uk/ Ambrose Bierce’s The Devil’s meeting. He also thanked all the Dictionary was first published in speakers, whose presentations had Hampstead Scientific Society: 1911 and is still in print. Several on- uniformly been extremely http://www.hampsteadscience.ac.uk/ line versions are also available, interesting, and the exhibitors. including one at: Finally, as ever, the Society is The Blackett Observatory at http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/dev grateful to the BMI for their Marlborough College: ils/ hospitality and support. http://www.blackettobservatory.org

AAS HAD meeting in Cambridge Derek Jones and Eric Hutton

The Division of Planetary A. van Helden (Utrecht) spoke on arrived at the solution in 1655-56. and Historical Astronomy Division Saturn Through the Telescope: the His ring theory was elegant but had (HAD) of the American First Century. Early telescopes several shortcomings. Astronomical Society (AAS) met in could show the ring but the Cambridge (England) during 2005 preconceptions of the observers did R.J. McKim (RAS and BAA) gave September 4 – 9. The meeting was not allow them to see it. Huygens A History of the Martian Dust in association with the Royal Astronomical Society and several Society for the History of Astronomy members were present. The total attendance was over 700, the great majority being planetary scientists.

From the SHA point of view the high points were the historical talks at the daily plenary sessions, which were intended for both planetary A diagram illustrating how Christiaan Huygens’ hypothesis that Saturn is a spherical scientists and historians. surrounded by a thin, flat ring which nowhere touches it explains the various telescopic appearances of the planet. From Huygens’ Systema Saturnium (1659)

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 10 December 2005 Storms. The earliest record was in posters, which were attended by Greek constellations, Aratus’ 1704 but the daily evolution of dust both historians and planetary Phaenomena, which is a copy of storms was not studied until 1911. scientists. The papers ranged over a ’ lost book of the same The telescopic literature is littered wide selection of topics; the most name, was in fact taken from with errors of fact and interpretation. noteworthy were on the history of observations made at two earlier radio astronomy. The rifle ranges times, about 650 BC and 1130 BC. M.A. Hoskin (Cambridge) spoke on where the early Cambridge Radio Caroline Herschel as an Observer. Telescopes were sited were only a The HAD meeting concluded with a She made an immense contribution few hundred yards from the tour of the Cambridge University to astronomy as amanuensis to her meeting. Several radio astronomers Observatory, where participants brother William but she was also an whose careers had started in the were shown the Northumberland observer on her own account and 1940s were present. Two aspects of telescope, the three-mirror telescope, discovered a number of nebulae. In the work of the early radio the original Mead building and the 1786 she discovered her first comet astronomers made a particular library. They continued to the and went on to discover seven more, impression. Firstly there were no museum at the including ’s comet. standard textbooks on the subject; Laboratory, which covers the whole everything had to be tried and history of the Cavendish Laboratory P.H. Schulz (Brown University) invented. The second was the but is rarely open to visitors. The spoke on Shooting the Moon: A different approach to building radio tour finished with a visit to the Personal Look at Hypotheses on the equipment adopted in England and Mullard Radio Astronomy Origin of the . Most of on the Continent. Here in England Observatory to see the buildings by the requisite physics was known by the scientists had to literally ‘muck the railway line and the old and the 1870s but impact cratering was in’, and having a PhD meant you modern instruments. not a favoured hypothesis. Stereo where a qualified ‘Post Hole images of the Moon at the 1851 Digger’. Very different from abroad, The programme and abstracts of Great Exhibition brought the craters where the manual work was not the papers at the conference can be to the attention of a wide public. As remit of the scientists. Of the other found in the Bulletin of the a result, the mystery of cratering was HAD session talks, B.E. Schaefer American Astronomical Society, 37, no longer the domain of those with gave a talk on A New Synthesis for (3), 2005 or online at http:// telescopes. the Origin of the Greek www.aas.org/publications/baas/v37n Constellations, showing plagiarism 3/dps2005/had2005block.html There were separate sessions for is nothing new. The earliest HAD contributed papers and surviving written description of the

A first for surveyors and for world heritage Jim Smith and Jan de Graeve

On 15 July 2005 the UNESCO used to seeing ancient buildings, World Heritage Committee stunning scenery and famous inscribed a new name on its list of archaeological sites as Heritage important sites: the Struve Geodetic monuments, the Struve Arc is but a Arc. This site is a triangulation series of marks in the ground barely network observed between 1816 and covering a square metre or so each. 1855 that stretched from near North However, taken as a whole the Arc Cape in Norway to the Black Sea. In was, for its time, a major scientific today’s geography it passes through achievement using state-of-the-art ten countries, namely Norway, instrumentation to achieve amazing , Finland, the Russian accuracies straddling such a vast Federation, Estonia, Latvia, distant and several countries. Much Lithuania, Belarus, the Republic of smaller similar schemes preceded it Moldova and the Ukraine. and longer and more accurate ones succeeded it, but it was a veritable The Struve Geodetic Arc is the first milestone in the quest to determine survey scheme and also the first accurate values for the parameters of such scientific and technological the earth. landmark to be entered on the World Heritage List, and it joins a select Arc measurement is the The old Tartu Observatory, which was list of less than 900 such listed sites determination of the linear length of the origin of Struve’s survey around the world. Whereas one is a section of meridian (line of

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 11 December 2005 longitude) on the earth together with the astronomical determination of the positions of the two end points. Whilst it should theoretically follow exactly along such a line of longitude in practice this is not essential, and indeed would be impractical, and appropriate corrections can be made. The terminal points of the Struve Arc are at Fuglenaes, latitude 70º 40’ 12” N and longitude 23º 39’ 48” E, and Staro- Nekrassowka, latitude 45º 19’ 54” N and longitude 28º 55’ 41” E. Hence it is said to run more or less along the 26º E line of longitude for a distance of 2820 km. The use of such a scheme was particularly designed to assist in the accurate determination of the size and shape of the earth. It was an extraordinary example of scientific collaboration among scientists from different countries and of collaboration between monarchs for a scientific cause. Additionally it formed the basis upon which the long-required accurate mapping of the areas concerned could be based.

The historic monument is defined by the initial preservation of 34 of the 265 main survey stations involved. The ten countries involved, with encouragement and help from the International Institution for the History of Surveying & Measurement (IIHSM), a Permanent Group within the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), have co-operated since 1954 in the recovery, verification, and documentation of the selected points and in establishing these points as monuments. Points were chosen to (a) give a spread of preserved points along the whole Arc, (b) be representative of all countries, (c) be verifiable as original points, (d) be reasonably accessible to the public, (e) be in positions that, if restored, they would not be liable to imminent destruction by building developments and (f) be generally in areas where the local population were keen to take such a monument under their wing for its upkeep.

Where possible the most prominent sites have been selected, including the obelisks at each terminal, the Tartu Observatory in Estonia (known at the time as Dorpat) which served as the origin of the scheme and the point in the tower of Alatornio church. This church itself has remained unchanged since the time of the measurements. Other points take a variety of forms such as drill holes in rock, cairns and crosses chiselled in rock.

F.G.W. Struve (1793-1864), after whom the Arc gets its name, was born in Altona, Holstein and died in Pulkova, Russia. He married twice and had 18 children. By age 20 he became Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Dorpat. His involvement in the survey of Livonia was the start of almost 40 years work on the Meridian Arc. He founded Pulkova astronomical observatory, then the best in the world, and the Russian Geographical Society. The other principal name associated with the Arc was that of the Russian military officer Carl F. Tenner (1783-1859). In 1816 he became Head of the vast Russian triangulation work in the western provinces of the Empire. He had started in 1817, on his own initiative, a triangulation scheme to the south of Livonia. After Struve and Tenner became acquainted with each other’s activities they joined forces. Some of the route in the northern parts covered similar territory to that surveyed in 1735 by Maupertuis when observing his much shorter scheme that was is particularly remembered, with a similar expedition to Peru in 1735-1745, Map of the Struve Arc from near North Cape to the Black Sea

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 12 December 2005 for solving once and for all the Poles) spheroid. The latter version (i) the restoration of the Old controversy between Newton in was proven to be correct. Observatory (now owned by Tartu England and the Cassinis in France, University) to become a Struve regarding the shape of the earth, that With the achievement of World Museum, is, was it a prolate (flattened at the Heritage Monument status for this Equator) or oblate (flattened at the Arc what enhancements are (ii) for the Struve archival material, possible? Monuments can be presently in several locations, to be extended at any later date and a properly indexed – a task already ‘monument’ such as the Struve Arc well under way with the assistance can be extended southwards as far as of Vitali Kaptjug and the IIHSM, South Africa. This extension is feasible because (a) in the 1930s a (iii) for there to be scientific join was made from the Struve Arc experiments across the 34 points that in Belarus to Crete and (b) the Arc could in the future be archive of the 30th Meridian through East material for tectonic and other Africa stretches from near Port investigations, Elizabeth to near Cairo but in the 1950s a connection was made across (iv) the translation of Struve’s the Mediterranean Sea to Crete. volumes into English. Hence there exists a connection that would extend the whole arc to one Further information can be obtained of 105º (see the Newsletter no. 7, from J.R. Smith, 24, Woodbury June 2005, pp9-11 for an article on Ave, Petersfield, Hants GU32 2EE, the African Arc). Such an extension UK or Professor Jan de Graeve, 5 would though involve a further 20 or Ave de Meysse, 1020 Brussel, so countries and would be no small Belgium. Also the IIHSM has a task. home page at URL: http://www.fig.net/hsm/index.htm. The obelisk at the southern end of the Other related activities are also Arc at Staro-Nekrassowka in the envisaged: Ukraine From Mars Hill to Mt Hamilton Roger Jones

A three week fly-drive trip to the US Republic’ dominate the Nevada miles. In this celestial map, the to see the National Parks of Arizona, approach. They are the work of bodies of the are placed Utah and California is something sculptor Oskar J.W. Hansen. so exactly that those versed in one would normally plan and book astronomy could calculate the months ahead of departure. Not so Surrounding the base of the statues precession of the Pole Star for my recent trip, which was planned is a terrazzo pavement, inlaid with a approximately the next 14,000 and booked in a little over a month, celestial map, which was created by years. Conversely, future with the final arrangements made Hansen in collaboration with The generations could look upon this only days before leaving for LA. Smithsonian Institution and the US monument and determine, if no Despite that, I managed to visit 8 Naval Observatory. The chart other means were available, the Parks, see San Francisco, Big Sur, preserves for future generations the exact date on which Hoover Dam and the Hoover Dam, travel along date on which President D. was dedicated. 4000 miles of US Interstate and Roosevelt dedicated Hoover Dam, highways including part of old September 30, 1935. The celestial Route 66, and not forgetting the two map pinpoints the precise major observatories hinted at in the astronomical time – September 30, title of this article. 1935, 8:56 p.m. – when FDR dedicated the dam. The very first thing I saw of astronomical significance, apart The apparent magnitudes of stars on from the blazing sun whilst crossing the chart are shown as they would the Mojave Desert was at the appear to the at a distance Hoover Dam on the Arizona / of about 190 trillion miles from Nevada border. At the top of the earth. In reality, the distance to most Detail from the Hoover Dam celestial dam, two ‘Winged Figures of the of the stars is more than 950 trillion map

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 13 December 2005 Three days into our trip, my son and Clyde Tombaugh to discover Pluto. Yosemite, and so the 20-mile round I were in Flagstaff and being I was told that just 12 miles to the trip on dirt roads to the crater was Saturday were lucky enough to be SE of Flagstaff is Anderson Mesa, out of the question. able to visit the Lowell Observatory where naked eye seeing is around for one of their open evenings. I was 8, and where several new In all the National Parks we visited, surprised by the large crowd of telescopes have been positioned. the visitor centre shops carried a people gathered outside the visitor And a few miles further east is good range of astronomy books and centre waiting for the 7:30 opening. Meteor Crater, but no time to spare star atlases. Many of them hold star It had been a long day as we had for a detour as we were heading parties, where park rangers point out risen at 4:30 a.m. and driven 60 north. the glories of the night sky. The miles to see the Sun rise over the monthly schedule of events in the Grand Canyon; and what a fabulous Park announced ‘Starry Skies over experience that was. Nevertheless I Yosemite Valley’. Unfortunately was wide awake as I queued outside although these ranger led events the darkened dome of the 24-inch occur 2 or 3 times a week, they did refractor. When my turn came not coincide with our 2 days in the the object in the eyepiece was one of park. I mentioned sunrise at the the sky’s brightest globular clusters, Grand Canyon; at Yosemite we saw M15. This fine instrument is, alas, sunset with the valley’s lengthening feeling its age and experiencing shadows and the alpenglow on the problems with the RA slow motion High Sierras in the background. drive. Time at the eyepiece was Then moonrise a day after full; all short as the queue stretched back out this from Glacier Point, over 3000 of the building and down the path to feet above the Yosemite Valley the visitor centre. I then entered my floor. Awesome! If you visit in the details on the visitor’s centre PC and spring during snow-melt, you might signed up for their e-mail newsletter, be lucky enough to see a lunar Percival Lowell at the eyepiece of the which was waiting in my inbox 24-inch Clark refractor rainbow as the full Moon hits Lower when I got back home. There were Yosemite or Vernal Falls. By late all the usual astro goodies in the September the falls are little more shop, but I resisted temptation until I From Arizona into Utah, where we than a trickle. saw The Explorers of Mars Hill in visited Zion, Bryce, Cedar Breaks the book section. This book was a and Capital Reef National Parks, Next, the world’s greatest living ‘must have’ and is the centennial plus a spectacular drive on Highway tree; a giant sequoia called the history of Lowell Observatory. Our 12 over Boulder Mountain. Another General Sherman in Sequoia NP, extended visit to the Grand Canyon reason for visiting Utah was that I and believe me it is huge. Whilst not prevented us from visiting and have Mormon ancestors who as tall as some redwoods it is exploring the Observatory during emigrated there in the 1840s – true certainly the most massive object daylight hours. pioneers. Following a meeting with living today. Nothing astronomical some recently found descendants in here apart from the size of the trees, Flagstaff is a small town, and the Fillmore and Payson, we drove so on to San Francisco, via railroad runs right through the north to Salt Lake City. On a tour of California's ‘Old Faithful’ geyser centre, with 100 car freight trains the Mormon Tabernacle and (not to be confused with thundering through every few associated buildings the next astro Yellowstone’s) and the Petrified minutes, horns blaring at every related item came into view. This Forest, near Calistoga, immortalised crossing. The Observatory is just was in the North Visitor’s Centre in Robert Louis Stevenson’s The outside the town centre on Mars and in the atrium, behind a statue of Silverado Squatters, following his Hill, but there is little light pollution Christ, was a magnificent mural visit there in 1880. as the local authority makes depicting the vastness of the maximum use of low pressure . Little to report from San Francisco, sodium lighting (LPS) and apart from cable car rides, a night rigorously enforces its outdoor Driving on Highway 6 across the visit to Alcatraz and a walk across lighting ordinance; one of the vast wilderness that is Nevada, with the Golden Gate Bridge… oh and strictest in the US. Percival Lowell not a soul to be seen except a lone clam chowder at Fisherman’s built the Observatory on Mars Hill coyote at the side of the road, is a Wharf! Then an early start for the (7257 feet) in the 1890s to study the Bureau of Land Management sign journey to Mt Hamilton. We joined ‘canals’ of Mars. In addition to the bearing the legend: ‘Lunar Crater’. the hectic rush hour traffic in 24-inch refractor, the Alvan Clark But time was short; it was another downtown San Francisco and across Co. also supplied a 40-inch reflector 200-mile drive over the California the Oakland Bay Bridge and down I- and the 13-inch refractor used by border to our next destination, 880 to San Jose. From there heading

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 14 December 2005 east we see the mountains on the place in the observatory safe and horizon. We get lost among the installed in the telescope on endless acres of fruit farms, but soon December 31, but stormy weather we see the sign for Mt Hamilton. prevented observing until, on From there it is a 19-mile climb with January 3, a break in the clouds 365 hairpins to the 4000-foot provided the first chance to put summit. We arrive at the top to find nearly fifteen years of planning and that it doesn't admit visitors until 12 hard work to the test. One can only noon. We stroll around, not a soul imagine the shock and distress that in sight. Many people live up there, the small party in the dome must even a sheriff and the US mailman. have felt when they found they By opening time there are 3 more could not focus the telescope – and visitors. Surprisingly the their relief when it was discovered Observatory is staffed by only one that an error in the estimate of the person, who dashes between the focal length had caused the tube to shop and the dome of the 36-inch be built too long. A hacksaw was refractor. First we head for the TV sent for and the tube room and watch the video of the unceremoniously shortened. The building and early history of the image of a ‘blazing red sun’ – the Observatory. The Lick 36-inch telescope. The world’s bright star Aldebaran – came into second largest refractor built by Warner focus. Later we get an exclusive tour of the and Swassey with Alvan Clark optics 36-inch by visitor assistant and Mt “Again clouds and snow descended Hamilton resident, Wendy Hanson. Observatory, whilst started in 1881 on the mountain, and another four She was very well informed about was not completed until 1888, days passed before the dome could the telescope and its history with the mainly due to the Clark’s long wait be opened again. A build-up of ice exception of Howard Grubb’s for suitable glass blanks from prevented the dome from rotating, involvement with the initial plans, France. but with patience born of a decade and the $600 the Lick Trustees paid of slow progress, Floyd and his men him for using his rising floor The man responsible for bringing waited for the earth’s rotation to designs. The scope itself was a the whole project to fruition was bring a planet in sight of the marvel to look at and it stretches the Captain Richard S. Floyd, President telescope: imagination to consider the effort of the Lick Trustees. Here is an required in building the very first account of the time the telescope ‘In jittery handwriting, caused by mountain-top observatory back in was first used: the cold working on his ungloved the 1880s. Initially there was no fingers, Floyd wrote “We are all road and the top of the peak had to “On a bitterly cold January night in waiting in this office (next to the big be rendered flat by blasting. The 1888, the telescope saw ‘first light.’ Dome) for Saturn to come by our road was built in 10 months, but the The lens had been carried from its shutter, which will be in about 2 hours.” When Saturn arrived at about midnight, the group gave up the relative warmth of the office for the frigid dome interior. The sight of the ringed planet rewarded them for their patience. “The definition was exquisite,” Floyd wrote, “[Saturn] has the silvery brightness of the moon. All hands were delighted… There is no doubt that we have the most powerful optical instrument in the world.’”

(from Eye on the Sky, Osterbrock, Gustafson, and Unruh, 1992, California Univ. Press).

There are of course several other large telescopes on Mt Hamilton including the Shane 120-inch (now The main Lick Observatory buildings built in the 1890s with the 36-inch dome in the with adaptive optics), the Crossley background

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 15 December 2005 36-inch, the Nickel 40-inch and the Back in LA with a few Tauchmann 22-inch reflectors. hours to spare, I thought These instruments all continue to do of visiting Griffith Park excellent research work. and its Observatory, but then remembered it was We head west, onto the final leg of closed for renovation our journey, to Monterey, and the until 2006. My son could 300 miles of Pacific coastline down see the Hollywood sign to LA. Big Sur, Pfeiffer Beach, a in the distance, so we distant glimpse of Hearst Castle, parked and spent an hour Morro Bay, and all the wildlife you reading the names on the could wish to see on a day’s drive: ‘Walk of Fame’. More Beneath the Lick 36-inch refractor, and below the deer, turkey vultures, pelicans, sea ‘stars’ but of a different rising floor is the tomb of the founder of the observatory. The inscription simply reads ‘Here lies lions, and dolphins. kind. the body of James Lick’

practical determination of photographic measurement of trigonometrical parallax, requiring trigonometrical in mind. the measurement of the This was the Sheepshanks telescope displacement of the positions of (named after the benefactor) which stars at six-month intervals to an remained one of the major accuracy of better than one-tenth of telescopes of the Observatory for an arc second, was on the limits of fifty years. Ball encouraged a young what was technically possible, and American astronomer from Sir Robert Ball many others failed. Princeton called Henry Norris Russell (we should now call him a I was not able to attend the historical Like most of the directors of post-doc) who learned from Ball’s astronomy session at the NAM university observatories in the same Chief Assistant A.R. Hinks how to meeting in Birmingham in April period Ball was primarily a use the telescope, and with it Russell 2005, and have only the briefest of mathematician; the professor- and Hinks measured some reliable summaries of Mark Butterworth’s director guided the staff, who did the stellar parallaxes, which Russell lecture on the career of Ball in work with the telescopes. incorporated into his first popular education in astronomy (1). Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of I share his admiration of Ball’s In Cambridge from about 1820 the 1913. contribution to what is now called Director of the Observatory was PUS (the Public Understanding of usually the Plumian Professor. By Ball’s role in this brief history ). I have a copy of a an accident of history in the late deserves to be remembered. published article by H. Spencer nineteenth century the directorship Jones (Astronomer Royal) in about fell to the Lowndean Professor of David Dewhirst, 1953 in which he writes of his Astronomy and (the later Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge. ‘memory… at the age of 10…of a in its proper meaning of the study of Christmas present of Sir Robert the properties of space, not the ruler- (1) SHA Newsletter, 8, September Ball’s Story of the Heavens… This and-protractor of one’s schooldays). 2005 p11. book was my introduction to Ball succeeded John Couch Adams astronomy and through it my interest in the Lowndean Chair in 1892. [Both Mark Butterworth and Peter in what was destined to become my Hingley, who wrote the NAM report, life’s work was first aroused.’ He continued his interest in stellar are happy to accept Dr Dewhirst’s parallax and in partnership with the clarification and amplification – The penultimate sentence of the telescope maker Grubb of Dublin Ed.] précis of the lecture (p12) seems a designed a twelve-inch refractor of little unfair, suggesting that Ball long focal length with the held professorships in Dublin and Cambridge despite the fact that his main scientific research programme A professor of what? (on stellar parallaxes) ‘was a complete failure.’ Mark Hurn and Roger Jones have noticed that in the on-line version of the 1901 UK census Sir Robert Ball is described as a ‘Professor of Glomshy.’ Through the nineteenth (and indeed No doubt it should have read ‘Geometry,’ unless you prefer to think it was most of the twentieth) centuries the Ball trying to humour the enumerator with his Irish wit.

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 16 December 2005 Book reviews

Book reviews for the Newsletter are organised by Madeline Cox. inadequate funding, with the Suggestions for books to review, donations of review copies and offers consequent lack of capability to to write reviews are always most welcome. However, to avoid pursue research that was both first duplication and confusion all matters pertaining to book reviews should rank and useful. The Observatory always be agreed with Madeline. Her contact details appear on the back was founded on the ‘Enlightenment page. Principle’ that its work should have utility, in this case meridian astronomy, which has application in Burley, Jeffery and Plenderleith, as a surprise to learn that in the late improving the Nautical Almanac Kristina (Eds.) A History of the eighteenth century, Britain’s best- used by mariners to determine Radcliffe Observatory Oxford: The equipped observatory lay not at longitude at sea. However, this Biography of a Building. Softback, Greenwich, near London, but rather principle was subverted by the Green College at Radcliffe in the dreaming spires of Oxford. Its Observatory’s relationship with Observatory, Oxford, 2005, ISBN 0- origins lie with the foresight, energy Oxford University, which often had 9509394-1-2, £14.50 + p&p. and tenacity of a different agenda. (1733-1810), Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford. Like previous Though scholarly in approach and illustrious incumbents of this post, with copious references, the book is such as , he was thoroughly readable even if one is expected to be a practising observer not familiar with the history of who would also give lectures on architecture or garden design. The Natural Philosophy. Finding the only weakness, due to length, is the College and University facilities brevity with which it describes the wanting, Hornsby successfully instruments used at the Observatory. approached the Radcliffe Trust to To fully appreciate these details the fund a new observatory to be sited reader needs to be familiar with the on the edge of Oxford. The trust had methods and practice of meridian already financed a new library in astronomy. The book is lavishly Oxford, now known as the Radcliffe illustrated. All told, it plugs a Camera, along with the infirmary notable gap in the works describing that bears its name. Provided with the histories of major British rooms for lecturing and two wings observatories. Considering the for making meridian observations, turbulent history of the institution, the building finally cost the then perhaps the book should have a title enormous sum of £31,661, with a that more reflects the Tower of the budget of £2,500 for instruments. Winds, the ancient monument in , on which the Radcliffe Despite a ponderous title, which The arrangement whereby Oxford Observatory building is modelled. hardly grabs the reader, this small University paid Hornsby’s salary, work provides a much overdue while the Radcliffe Trust paid the Copies are available from: The account of one of history’s forgotten entire running costs of the Development Office, Green College observatories. It is organised as a observatory, suited the former, but at the Radcliffe Observatory, series of essays that outline the sowed the seed for future wrangles. Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 history and artistic merits of the These management shortcomings 6HG. E-mail: building, the work and activities of are expanded upon when Hutchins [email protected] the observatory, and finally the later later describes the subsequent use of the site by the Radcliffe troubled history of the observatory. Kevin Johnson Infirmary and then Green College. This account gives an interesting To historians of astronomy, the insight into how politics, patronage chapters by Roger Hutchins and and other influences affected the Geoffrey Tyack are the most staffing of the observatory in the relevant as they provide an nineteenth century. The role of the institutional history from its Astronomer Royal, George Biddell establishment in 1773 until removal Airy (1801-1892), as kingmaker, in to South Africa in 1934. the appointment of new Radcliffe Observers, is intriguing and an eye- To readers unfamiliar with the opener. Hutchins summarises the Radcliffe Observatory, it may come deficiencies of the observatory as

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 17 December 2005 Henry, John, The Scientific The material covered includes: the at students (presumably Revolution and the Origins of state of knowledge about the undergraduates) and non-scientists. Modern Science. Second edition. physical world in the late Middle The treatment is clear and Paperback, Palgrave, Basingstoke, Ages and the predominant straightforward to follow. The 2002, ISBN 0-333-96090-4, £13.99, ‘scholasticism,’ deriving from the material covered ranges well beyond pp160 + x. writings of , taught in the astronomy, though astronomical universities; the origins of the matters are well-covered, and a in the reader would have to be narrowly Renaissance and the rediscovery of focussed indeed not to find the non- texts from Antiquity. The various astronomical material of some developments which lead to the interest. are discussed, such as the increased use of mathematics The author is a Senior Lecturer in to describe physical phenomena the Science Studies Unit of the ( was largely University of Edinburgh and has descriptive) and the evolution of the published widely in the field. His scientific method. is book is well produced and I did not the name usually associated with the spot any typographical errors. There latter, but his was by no means the are no illustrations (in the classic only contribution and there were tradition of history textbooks). There distinct differences between British are, however, plentiful references, and Continental schools. Other almost all to recent secondary topics include: the role of Medieval sources in English, so topics of and Renaissance magic in the interest can easily be pursued in development of science (a subject greater detail. There is also a useful long-neglected, but which has glossary. The price is reasonable. undergone something of a Most SHA members are not renaissance of its own in recent professional historians, let alone years), the development of the historians of science, and such Around the end of the sixteenth ‘mechanical philosophy’ which general historical knowledge as we century Tycho, Kepler and Galileo finally ousted (most have has been picked up ‘along the all practised to some completely formulated by , way.’ The Scientific Revolution and degree and had grown up in the but there were other important the Origins of Modern Science can prevailing Aristotelian physics contributors, such as Gassendi) and be recommended to anyone seeking which underpinned it. Three- the relation of the emergent science a reasonably detailed introduction quarters of a century later John to religion and the wider culture. to, or refresher in, the Scientific also cast a at The contribution of ‘craft’ Revolution, in which developments the founding of the Royal knowledge, acquired from artisans in astronomy played so important a Observatory at Greenwich in 1675, and craftsmen, is discussed, as is the part. but underneath he wrote Risum importance of patronage. Many of teneatis amici? (Can you keep from the innovations were made by Clive Davenhall laughter, my friends?). Much had scholars attached to the courts of changed in the intervening years, kings and princes at a time when including the development of what universities were teaching we now know as ‘science’ (though institutions. We that term was not used until the need only think of nineteenth century) in a process Tycho and Kepler at which is usually called the the court of Rudolph ‘Scientific Revolution’. The details II in Prague. and dates vary from historian to historian, with consolidation in the The book is part of eighteenth century and origins in the the series ‘Studies in sixteenth century (or earlier), European History’ following on from, and continuous which aims to with the Renaissance (itself a period present ‘the “state of whose boundaries and scope are also the debate” in the subject of debate). The Scientific important themes in Revolution and the Origins of European history Modern Science is an introduction to since the sixteenth these topics. century’. It is aimed

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 18 December 2005 Obituaries

Astronomers (NACAA), and Cook University at the beginning of John Louis Perdrix religiously attended the triennial 2005. John’s medical condition also conventions. John was ‘on the ball’ forced him to step down as On 27 June 2005 Australia lost one (as they say) when it came to Managing Editor of JAH2 at this of its leading historians of astronomical terminology, and time, and he became a valued astronomy when John Louis Perdrix stressed that the acronym NACAA member or the Editorial Board. My died in Dubai after a brief battle should be pronounced ‘Nacker’ main regret is that he did not live to with . (rhyming with ‘Hacker’) rather than see the first ‘new-look’ version of ‘Nacer’ (rhyming with ‘Racer’)! the Journal he so cherished. I think John Perdrix was born in Adelaide he would have been suitably on 30 June 1926, the third and final At the international level, John impressed. child of Alf and Winifred Perdrix. pursued his astronomical interests His parents moved frequently, so through the BAA and the RAS, and young John was packed off to a he was also a member of the IAU succession of boarding schools. (Commission 41, History of Upon completing his education at Astronomy), a rare distinction for an Xavier College in Melbourne he Australian amateur astronomer. attended Melbourne Technical Throughout his life, he encouraged College where he studied chemistry. close amateur-professional relations. After working as a research chemist for a company making exterior John’s principal astronomical finishes and sealants he set up his passion was the history of own business, and produced a range astronomy, and over the years he of chemical products, mainly for the published a succession of research dairy industry. In the early 1970s he papers, reports and book reviews in finally found his forté when he the Journal of the Astronomical joined the Commonwealth Scientific Society of Victoria, various NACAA and Industrial Research proceedings, the Australian Journal Organisation and became involved of Astronomy, the Journal of the John Louis Perdrix (1926 -2005) in geochemical research. In 1974 the British Astronomical Association Division of Minerals and and the Journal of Astronomical Geochemistry was relocated to History and Heritage. Most of his Always the consummate gentleman, Perth, and John spent the remainder papers dealt with aspects of John possessed a sharp intellect and of his life in the Western Australian Australian astronomical history, a keen sense of humour. When capital (on the far side of the including the Flagstaff and cancer was first diagnosed this did Australian continent) where he Melbourne Observatories, the Great not deter him and he continued to developed close bonds with Melbourne Telescope, and share his time between astronomy geological colleagues that were to Australian Branches of the BAA. To and chemotherapy. With the cancer endure long after retirement. support his research activities, he seemingly in remission in early 2005 built up an amazing library that he decided to make a long- During his teenage years John developed its own distinctive anticipated trip to St Petersburg, and became interested in astronomy, and personality and quickly took over was returning to Australia when the he was able to indulge this through his house and garage before illness aggressively reappeared. He the Astronomical Society of invading commercial storage was taken off the aeroplane at Victoria. A long-time Councillor, he facilities. Dubai, and died peacefully in served as President in 1960-1961 Rashid Hospital three days later. He and in 1967-1968. He was also a Apart from editing the Journal of was just three days short of his member of the short-lived Victorian the Astronomical Society of Victoria seventy-ninth birthday. Branch of the British Astronomical for many years and producing Association, serving as various NACAA proceedings, from John was wonderful company and a Secretary/Treasurer from 1954 until 1985 to 1997 John issued the dear friend, and will be greatly the group’s demise in 1963. After Australian Journal of Astronomy missed by all who had the pleasure moving to Perth, John founded the through his own publishing house, of knowing him. Our condolences Astronomical Society of the South Astral Press. From 1998 Astral Press go to his six children, Louise, John, West. Meanwhile, at the national also produced the Journal of Timothy, Fleur, Lisa and Angella. level, he co-founded the National Astronomical History and Heritage, Australian Convention of Amateur until this was taken over by James Wayne Orchiston

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 19 December 2005 David Sinden

It is with great sadness that I convey the news that David Sinden died on Monday, 29 August. David was Chief Optician at Grubb Parsons for many years, and was responsible for some of the world’s largest optics, including the 4.2-metre (165-inch) mirror for the William Herschel Telescope, the 3.9-metre (153-inch) mirror for the Anglo-Australian Telescope, and the new corrector plate for the 48-inch Oschin Schmidt at Mount Palomar.

Although embittered by the dismantling of Grubb Parsons in 1983, a company to which he had devoted so much of his life, it did David Sinden with a 48-inch f/3 Ritchey-Chretien primary mirror not deter him. He immediately set acknowledgement of others, and spectroscopy in the 1950s and up his own company, Sinden Optics, often referred to the old hands who 1960s. and continued to produce high- originally taught him, some of quality optics ranging from whom had learned their craft from David could talk for England. standard-aperture mirrors for others who had been taught by Telephone conversations averaged amateurs to a 40-inch mirror for a Howard Grubb; the Geordies whom about an hour, and his lecture Japanese observatory, besides more he said knew far more about optics presented in Northampton in specialist items such as a 16-inch than he would ever know. September 1999 lasted almost three Schmidt corrector plate and batches hours, while his e-mails rarely of 2-inch mirrors for industrial use. Although optics was David’s contained less than a thousand He also accepted commissions for a profession, he was an amateur words. But every word he uttered camera obscura for a Spanish astronomer (he joined the BAA in and wrote was worthy of attention. institution and another for the Cuban 1949 and was latterly also a Fellow He was passionate about not only government in Havana. of the RAS), and would take modern optics but also the work of advantage of any opportunity to talk his predecessors, particularly Calver David always emphasised that his about telescopes and to help those and Cooke, and was master of his work was not a particularly exotic who consulted him. His favourite art. occupation, and delighted in such telescope was his 6-inch Calver words as ‘dirty’, ‘grubby’, ‘grimy’, reflector on an altazimuth mount, A longer obituary will be published ‘filthy’ and ‘gritty’; and yet the and at times he took the opportunity in the BAA Journal in due course. results were superlative. He was to pursue other lines of research, self-demeaning in his such as his experiments in meteor Robert Marriott SHA Library service news Madeline Cox and Stuart Williams

The Library service continues to ALibManSept2005.pdf so please loan, some for reference only. grow, with some excellent purchases continue to check it for the latest Further details can be found in the and donations again this year, which additions. If you do not have access Catalogue. have been added to the Lending to the Internet, please send an A4 Library and the Sir Robert Ball SAE to SHA Librarian Madeline • Burley: History of the Radcliffe Library (items published in 1950 Cox for a printed copy (her contact Observatory and earlier in the latter case). These details appear on the back page). • : A Popular History of acquisitions are listed below. The Astronomy in the Nineteenth Library Manual and Catalogue is Recent purchases Century regularly updated on our Web site at • Linton: A History of URL: The following items have been Mathematical Astronomy http://www.shastro.org.uk/docs/SH purchased this year. Some are for

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 20 December 2005 • Mitton: , a Life in Science • Miller: Empire of the Stars • JBAA index vols. 50-100 • JBAA index vols. 1-50 • Huygens: Treatise on Light • Ball Sir Robert: Reminiscences • Levy: The Man who Sold the Milky Way • McReady: The Discovery of Time • James: Elites in Conflict • Gribbin: The Man who Measured the Universe • Sobel: The Planets

Donations

The following individuals have Margaret Bryan’s A Compendious System of Astronomy published in 1799, kindly donated items this year. donated by Dr John Lester. The frontispiece shows Mrs Bryan and her daughters Mrs Bryan’s book is now the oldest visiting the Sir Robert Ball Library • Gilbert Satterthwaite: Annual Review of Astronomy and in the library. We are particularly at the BMI in Birmingham. Astrophysics, several volumes grateful to Dr Lester, who is not a member. However, we thank all our All pre-1986 book stock held in the • Peter Hingley/RAS: James donors for their generosity and SHA Lending Library will be Short and his Telescopes encourage new donations from transferred to the Sir Robert Ball Jerry Grover: The Astronomer of • others. As our collections continue Library early in 2006, so that the Rousdon to grow, we would urge all members Lending Library may concentrate on • Roger Jones: a selection of 9 to make use of the services, both at new, cutting-edge texts. Suggestions titles the BMI and the lending library. for Lending Library book purchases, • Peter Grego: The Moon preferably paperbacks, are Observed and Collision Earth. Sir Robert Ball Library welcomed by Madeline Cox, as are • Stuart Willliams: various donations of recent books and publications for the Stuart The Sir Robert Ball Library at the review copies of new publications. Williams Collection and Birmingham & Midland Institute Gribbin: Stardust for the Loan continues to grow steadily in stature SHA Secretary Stuart Williams has Collection. and prestige, proving popular during taken on an additional role as this year’s Autumn Conference and Research Librarian, running the Sir We have also recently received the the recent brief opening following Robert Ball Library subject to the following generous donations from Madeline Cox’s talk about the SHA oversight of the SHA Library Dr John Lester: Library. Our book collections now Committee and with the assistance date back as far as the late of SHA Librarian Madeline Cox and • Margaret Bryan: A eighteenth century, with early SHA Councillor Roger Jones. The Compendious System of nineteenth century and later journals SRB Library will also be enhanced Astronomy, 1799 (Wallis, Wynn offering especially important by becoming a reference centre for and Scholey) resources to researchers. Work on the SHA Survey under Roger Jones. • Patricia Philips: The Scientific listing and indexing continues. A small Loan Collection will be Lady, 1990 (Weidenfeld and More visitors are needed. made available to visiting SHA Nicholson) Members from duplicate stock. In • Geoffrey , ed. W.W. Library development and due course an enquiry service will Skeat: A Treatise on the plans for 2006 be set up. Astrolabe, 1872 (Oxford Univ. Press), 1968 reprint The SHA’s Library Service will be • MS suspected by Geoffrey undergoing some exciting Chaucer, ed. Derek J. Price: The developments in 2006, and members Equatorie of the Planetis, 1955 are strongly encouraged to support (Cambridge Univ. Press) ms the service by borrowing books and c.1392

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 21 December 2005 please note that the continuation of Library opening hours the extended openings for 2006 is an experiment intended to benefit In all cases you should check RAS Library amateur astronomers and historians, availability before visiting and bring such as SHA members, and will your SHA membership card for The RAS Library is open during only be continued if sufficient identification. office hours, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, readers use the Library on these Monday to Friday. In addition it will days to make it worth while; so use SHA Sir Robert Ball Library be open on the first Saturday of it or lose it! every month, 9:30 – 5:30. It will In 2006 the Sir Robert Ball Library also stay open until 6:00 pm on the Contact Peter Hingley (020-7734 - will be open on selected Saturdays nights of BAA London Wednesday 4582, ext. 215 or [email protected]). only, as listed below. On these days meetings and, if the BAA arranges the opening hours will be 10:30 am any London Saturday meetings, it On-line catalogue: – 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm will attempt to cover those as well. http://ras.heritage4.com (closed for lunch noon – 1:00 pm). Therefore the planned Saturday openings until the end of 2006 will ROE Library 28 January, 25 February, 25 March, be: 29 April, 27 May, 24 June, 22 July, The ROE Library is usually open 19 August, 30 September, 28 7 January, 4 February, 4 March, 1 during office hours, Monday to October, 25 November, 9 December. April, 6 May, 3 June, 1 July, 5 Friday. Contact Karen Moran (0131- August, 2 September, 7 October, 4 668-8395 or [email protected]). You are strongly advised to check November, 2 December. that the library will be open before On-line catalogue: visiting, to avoid disappointment. It is essential to contact the http://www.roe.ac.uk/roe/library/ind Contact Stuart Williams, telephone Librarian in advance if any rare or ex.html and follow the links: 07906 103735 during opening hours older book material, archives, and ‘Search the Main Library Catalogue’ only. Any enquiries, please write especially older journals, are and ‘ROE Catalogue’. with SAE to: SHA, 26, Matlock required during these extended Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, West openings as some of these items Midlands, WS3 3QD or by e-mail may be in another building which is to: [email protected] not accessible on Saturdays. Also, Forthcoming meetings and events Clive Davenhall

The following is a preliminary list of forthcoming meetings and events to be held during 2006. Booking is necessary unless noted otherwise. Except where noted the events are organised by the SHA. The details of non- SHA events are checked as far as possible but cannot be guaranteed. Items for inclusion in this list in future issues of the Newsletter are welcome. They should be sent to the editorial address given on the back page.

29 Oct. to 12 Mar. The Astrolabe, East and West. Museum of the , Old Ashmolean Building, Broad Street, Oxford. Exhibition featuring material from the museum’s outstanding collection of astrolabes. See http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/. Admission free, booking unnecessary (non-SHA event). See also the museum’s on-line exhibition Astrolabes of Africa at http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/africa/

Wed. 7 Dec to Wed. 15 Mar. Beautiful Minds: Celebrating the Nobel Prizes. At the British Library, Kings Cross on the theme of the Nobel Prize and the people who have won it. The astronomical content is unknown. Admission free, booking unnecessary. See

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 22 December 2005 http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/whatson/exhibitions/ Sat. 7 Oct. SHA Autumn Conference: Instruments and forthcoming.html. (non-SHA event). Imaging. To be held at the BMI. See the Society news elsewhere in this Newsletter for details. Mon. 3 to Fri. 6 Apr. NAM 2006. National Astronomy Meeting organised by the RAS and PPARC. To be held Details of additional forthcoming international at the . There seems likely to be conferences are included in Wolfgang Dick’s Electronic an historical session this year. See Newsletter for the History of Astronomy. An archive is http://www.nam2006.le.ac.uk/index.shtml (non-SHA available at URL: http://www.astro.uni- event). bonn.de/~pbrosche/aa/enha/.

Fri. 12 to Sat. 13 May. The Worlds of Oronce Fine: ROE winter talks Mathematics, Instruments, and The Book in Renaissance France. A conference on the French mathematician During the winter the ROE holds a series of weekly Oronce Fine (1491-1555) who also wrote on astronomy, public talks. The talks are held from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on amongst other subjects. To be held at the University of St Monday evenings. Most of the talks are on contemporary Andrews. For further information contact: Alexander astronomy, but early in 2006 there will three on Marr ([email protected]), School of Art historical topics: History, , 9, The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR (non-SHA event). 20 Feb. Madeline Shepherd, Maria Obscura (story of Maria Short who established the Camera Obscura on Sat. 20 May. Annual General Meeting and Spring Castlehill, at the top of the Royal Mile, and the first Conference: Women in Astronomy. To be held at the public observing in Edinburgh) Institute of Astronomy, . Date and venue TBC. 6 Mar. Lorna Waite, The Eleventh Earl of Buchan and his Solar System Model in the Landscape of West End of May/Beginning of July. SHA Summer Picnic. Lothian Details to be announced. 20 Mar. Clive Davenhall, Mapping the Sky (from Mon. 14 to Sat. 25 Aug. IAU General Assembly XXVI. prehistory to the mid-nineteenth century) To be held in Prague. IAU Commission 41 (History of Astronomy) will be organising sessions as part of this Admission is £2.00 for adults, children and concessions meeting. See http://www.astronomy2006.com/ (non- £1.00. No booking required. For further information SHA event). contact the Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ, tel. 0131 668 8404, e-mail [email protected] or see http://www.roe.ac.uk/vc/actpublic/lectures/. Calendar noticed Clive Davenhall

The Renaissance Library Calendar might be of interest. Each month shows a photograph of a different historic library. The title is something of a misnomer as the libraries featured were founded in periods ranging from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. There is nothing specifically astronomical about the calendar Books (though careful inspection reveals that many of the NEW ASTRONOMY BOOKS libraries contain pairs of terrestrial and celestial globes). AT DISCOUNTED PRICES Nonetheless there is much of interest and many of the AND photographs are very attractive. The price in the UK is SECONDHAND ASTRONOMY BOOKS about £11, including p&p. See URL: http://www.renaissancelibrary.com/ Martin Lunn MBE 6 Evelyn Crescent The Renaissance Library Clifton Calendar for October York 2001, showing the New YO3O 6DR Library of the Royal TEL/FAX 01904 337989 College of Physicians www.-books-uk.co.uk of Edinburgh, founded in 1682 E-mail: [email protected]

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 23 December 2005 New members Council and Officers Hon President: The Society for the History of Astronomy extends a very Dr Allan Chapman warm welcome to the following members who have Hon Vice Presidents: recently joined the Society: Dr Michael Hoskin Sir Patrick Moore CBE FRS Mr John Armitage of Cannock, Staffordshire. Mr of Walsall, Staffordshire. Chairman: Mr Bruce William Harper of Queensland, Australia. Gilbert Satterthwaite FRAS ([email protected]) Mr Rodney John Hine of Bradford, West Yorkshire. Dr Roger Hutchins of Oxford. Secretary: Mr Nigel Longshaw of Oldham, Lancashire. Stuart Williams FRAS Mr Peter Terrence Grego of Birmingham. 26 Matlock Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 3QD ([email protected])

Treasurer: Guidelines for submitting Kenneth J. Goward, FRAS, 14 Keightley Way, Tuddenham St Martin, articles and letters to the Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9BJ Newsletter ([email protected]) Council Members William Barton ([email protected]) Guidelines for submitting articles and letters to the Madeline Cox ([email protected]) Newsletter were included in the previous issue (No. 7, June 2005) and are available from the Society’s Web Peter Hingley ([email protected]) site. Mark Hurn ([email protected]) Articles, letters and Newsletter inquiries should be sent Roger Jones ([email protected]) to Clive Davenhall. For electronic contributions the e- mail address is: [email protected]. For paper Dr Nicholas Kollerstrom ([email protected]) contributions see the box opposite. Martin Lunn MBE ([email protected])

The deadline for the next edition of the Newsletter is Dr Reginald Withey ([email protected]) the 1st of February 2006. Editor, The Antiquarian Astronomer Dr W R Withey Editor, The Antiquarian Astronomer 2006 subscriptions 16 Lennox Close Gosport PO12 2UJ ([email protected]) Members are reminded that subscriptions for 2006 become due from the 1 January. You are welcome to Assistant Editor, The Antiquarian Astronomer renew before then, as this will spread the load for the Kevin Johnson ([email protected]) Treasurer! Members who fail to renew by 31 March 2006 will be deemed to have lapsed their membership, as Newsletter correspondence to: Clive Davenhall, per Section 6(iii) of the Society’s Constitution. A 30, Millar Crescent, renewal form is enclosed with this edition of the Morningside, Newsletter. Edinburgh, EH10 5HH ([email protected])

New payment option for overseas members Librarian Madeline Cox ([email protected]) To facilitate easier payment of subscriptions from overseas the Society has opened a Paypal Account with Archivist Mark Hurn ([email protected]) eBay. Please credit £30.00 (STERLING) to the account name: Society for the History of Astronomy. E-mail Website Manager address: [email protected]. Please notify the Greg Smye-Rumsby, Treasurer directly via e-mail to verify that you have paid. ([email protected]) This facility is only available to overseas members. General communications to the Society should be directed to the Secretary in the first instance.

The illustration on p1 is reproduced by permission of SHA Website: the Science and Society Picture Library. http://www.shastro.org.uk

SHA Newsletter – Issue 9 Page 24 December 2005