BULLETIN ISSUE 28 AUTUMN 2017 The SHA in Paris The SHA at Flammarion’s Observatory The SHA in Cambridge The 1927 Eclipse The SHA in Liverpool The SHA in Cornwall 2017 AUTUMN CONFERENCE Saturday 28th October The conference registration is The first morning session is the 2017 Annual General Meeting John Lee Theatre, Birmingham between 0930 and 1000 at which refreshments are available in the to which all members and & Midland Instute Margaret guests are invited. The AGM Street, Birmingham B3 3BS lecture theatre. The conference starts at 1000 with a welcome by lasts for one hour after which the morning talk begins. the SHA Chairman The first talk is at 1115 and the Bob Bower introduces the The day ends with a talk about morning session ends at 1215 afternoon session at 1330 and Norman Lockyer from the SHA for lunch. The lunch break is there is a break for refreshments Honorary President Dr. Allan until 1330. Please make your at 1530, when tea, coffee and Chapman. The afternoon own arrangements. There is a biscuits will be served. session will end at 5 p.m. and cafe upstairs and a nearby pub. the conference will then close. 10 00 - 1015 10 15 - 1115 1115 - 1215 SHA Chairman Bob Bower Roger Salt Welcomes delegates SHA The Antikythera Mechanism. to the Birmingham 2017 A presentation covering and Midland Instute Roger's research into the ANNUAL ancient Greek analogue for the SHA Autumn GENERAL MEETING Conference computer and orrery 13 30 - 1430 14 30 - 1530 16 00 – 17 00 Eddie Carpenter Professor Donald Kurtz Dr. Allan Chapman An Astronomical Slide Show Its About Time: Days, The Civil Servant and the A presentation of the Weeks, Months and more. Sunbeam. heavens from a bygone era From Roman Emperors to Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer, the English time riots. pioneer of Solar Physics. 2 In this Issue Regular Features Digital Bulletin The Digital Bulletin provides extra 4 content and links for members viewing Bulletin 28 as a PDF. News Update News Items relating to the History 5 of Astronomy Book Review 1 Equilateral by Ken Kalfus 31 Reviewed by Clive Davenhall. Book Review 2 Prisoner of the Vampires of 32 Paris Observatory – visited in April during the SHA joint Mars. Reviewed by Clive mee4ng with La Société Astronomique de France Davenhall. Book Review 3 Cat Country. Reviewed by Clive Davenhall 32 Event reports Book Review 4 2017 Spring Conference The Glass Universe. Reviewed by Gareth Cottrell 33 Held on the 22nd April 2017 at the Cambridge 7 Institute of Astronomy Book Review 5 2017 Summer Picnic Discovery of the First Asteroid, Ceres. Reviewed 34 Held on the 1st July 2017 at the Liverpool World 8 by Brian Sheen Museum and Liverpool Library Book Review 6 April 2017 SHA Trip to Paris The Mistress of Science. Reviewed by Carolyn Kennett 35 The visit took place from Friday 7th April to 10 Sunday 9th April 2017 Online Resources The Depiction of Astronomy in Medieval Resources. - 24 from Carolyn Kennett Articles From the Library Shelves 1 An Insider's Guide to the Astrophysics The Moon - from Carolyn Bedwell 26 Data System - A useful resource for researching 15 astronomical history from Bill Barton From the Library Shelves 2 27 The SHA Survey - Kevin Johnson looks at You cannot be Sirius…..... – from Carolyn Bedwell astronomers from Surrey and Suffolk 15 Astroconundrum 1 Adventures in Archeoastronomy 3 - A Puzzler …..... – from Paul Haley 38 Carolyn Kennett continues her Cornwall research 17 Crossword History of Astronomy Crossword 1Solution 44 The Story of the 1927 Eclipse - Graham McLoughlin looks back at this event 19 The 1927 Eclipse Meeting of the LAS – 23 from Gerard Gilligan AUTUMN CONFERENCE The Yearbook of Astronomy - Brian Jones looks at its history, salvation and future. 29 Takes place on Saturday 28th Astronomical Snippets from Grace’s October 2017 Guide Part 5. - Paul Haley continues his journey to 35 At the Birmingham and investigate this resource. Midland Instute Astro-Research 2 - Paul Haley continues his series 39 on researching astronomical history. Details Opposite 3 Digital Bulletin 28 for online readers From the SHA Online Article Library The Digital Bulletin provides extra content and Warren De La Rue Jesse Ramsden links for members viewing Bulletin 27 as a PDF. Articles that have previously appeared in the Antiquarian Astronomer are now on line. Selected articles can be read directly from this page. Key links to the latest and past issues of SHA e-News and other material can be accessed from here. Click the centre of any image to go to the content. QR codes next to each item allows the printed Bulletin reader to access the digital content. Please note that e-News is now published at the beginning of February, May, August and November. The craftsman SHA e-News who believed issues can be big was accessed here Pioneer beautiful Click the QR Astronomical Code box to link Photographer to it Sir Robert Ball The Antiquarian TWO GUERNSEYMEN AND TWO ECLIPSES Astronomer web page can be linked to here Free to download from web as a PDF file DE LA RUE AND NAFTEL The man behind the name of the SHA Library Airy's Altazimuth Charles Dickens at the Royal Observatory Airy's Altazimuth 4 NEWS book has a ‘corpus mensurarum’ of 3000 region of space where the gravitational force PRESTIGIOUS orientations. The majority orientated within to is so powerful that nothing can escape, not AWARD FOR SHA an arc where the sun of midsummer sunrise even light. through south to midsummer sunset, (omitting Although important research continued to be VICE- PRESIDENT any northerly directions). carried out by both Herstmonceux and visiting Antequera in southern Spain is the home to a astronomers, the INT saw a mere twelve years most exceptional dolmenic site. There are of service in its rural Sussex location. three colossal dolmens, each of a wholly Restricted viewing due to the vagaries of the different construction. Hoskin's ‘corpus’ British weather coupled with light pollution suggests that one of the Antequera dolmens from the expansion of nearby towns such as may be unique in facing a terrestrial 'target', Eastbourne brought about the decision to for it looks northeast, towards a mountain with relocate the telescope to a new home on La the shape of a sleeping giant. Palma in the Canary Islands. Its final view of In recent years the authorities there have the night sky above Sussex was in March applied to secure World Heritage status, and 1979. this was granted last year. As a result, tourism With a new mirror and dome, the INT was in Antequera is booming. The Antequera back in regular service by 1984 and is still in authorities are convinced that this was use today, perched high above the clouds on decisive in securing the World Heritage status, La Palma’s Roque de los Muchachos. The and their gratitude to Hoskin knows no original mirror is now on display at The bounds. Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, Michael Hoskin receiving his gold medal from More information about these sites can be within sight of that iconic dome. the King and Queen of Spain. found at To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the http://tinyurl.com/y9btzdwv inauguration of the INT, The Observatory The SHA’s vice president Michael Hoskin has Science Centre is hosting a special event later been given a very special award. The King of this year on December 1st. Former RGO staff Spain awarded him with the gold medal in fine and other astronomers who worked with the arts in December 2016. Following this in April Michael Hoskin, Tombs, Temples and their INT will share their memories and anecdotes 2017 he travelled to Antequera with 25 Orientations. A New Perspective on on what is sure to be both a nostalgic and members of his family, where he was given a Mediterranean Prehistory. Bognor Regis: interesting evening. Although still in the bronze sculpture by the provincial Ocarina Books, 2001. Pp. 264. ISBN planning stage, you can register your interest government. He unveiled this bust of himself 0-9549867-1-6. in attending by calling the Centre on 01323 in the city square, which is now also named -------------------------------------------------------- 832731 or visit www.the-observatory.org for after him. further updates, together with details of all our DOME ALONE – THE other events and activities. STORY OF THE ISAAC Written by Barry Howse NEWTON TELESCOPE AN EMAIL FROM For the past fifty years, a large metallic dome MINNEAPOLIS has been an iconic feature of the Sussex landscape, standing like a sentinel on the edge of the Pevensey Levels. Now mostly In January 2017 the library received a very concealed by trees, it was once far more polite email from a 12 year old, called Jared, visible and still continues to be a navigational from Minneapolis in the USA. Jared had been aid for shipping in the English Channel. set a project to research an aspect of history However, for many people, both local and and to compose a website about it; he had visitors to the area, it remains an enigma. chosen to research Nicholas Copernicus. Jared What was its purpose and what of its fate? explained that during some online searches he The dome housed the Isaac Newton telescope, had discovered the website of the Society for which at the time of its inauguration by Her the History of Astronomy and decided to send Majesty The Queen in 1967 was the largest an email to the librarian asking for help on reflecting telescope in Western Europe and the suitable resources. fifth largest in the world.