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Electronic newsletter for the history of astronomy 19
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* *
* ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER FOR THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY *
* *
* Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy *
* in the Astronomische Gesellschaft *
* *
* Number 19, April 9, 1997 *
* *
* A translation of *
* *
* ELEKTRONISCHE MITTEILUNGEN ZUR ASTRONOMIEGESCHICHTE *
* Nr. 19, 19. Dezember 1996 *
* *
* Edited by: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick <wdi@potsdam.ifag.de> *
* *
* Translated by: Mr. Donald Bellunduno <76450.1741@CompuServe.COM> *
* *
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Contents
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1. Armin Huettermann: Tobias Mayer Museum in Marbach am Neckar
2. Thomas Kloeti: A transparent celestial atlas (1826) by
Franz Niklaus Koenig
3. Authors for history of science essays needed
4. Request for material on the history of lunar studies
5. Conferences 1997
Imprint
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Item 1 ENHA No. 19, April 9, 1997
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Tobias Mayer Museum in Marbach am Neckar
----------------------------------------
By Armin Huettermann, Marbach
Tobias Mayer, Marbach's "second most important son" (next to Friedrich
Schiller), will be honored in the form of a permanent museum, which will be
situated in the house of his birth. The present owner of the house, Prof.
Roth, will, after being gone 15 years, leave Marbach. Roth acquired the
dilapidated house in 1979 from the city of Marbach, and renovated it
considering the rules for preservation of historic buildings. In 1981 he
founded the Tobias Mayer Museum Society and was able in the following years
to erect a small exhibit on the ground floor commemorating Tobias Mayer.
While taking over the house by January 1, 1996, the society can bring to
life a plan which it had wished for for years: a museum dedicated to this
universal genius of science. Mayer earned a steady reputation working in
the fields of mathematics, astronomy, geography, and cartography. Forbes'
biography shows that Mayer was not only respected as one amongst many good
mathematicians and astronomers of his time, but was considered by Euler to
be of oustanding competence, and was numbered by Delambre as one of the
greatest astronomers of all times in all lands. He was also noted for
being an extraordinary geographer, cartographer, and inventor of scientific
instruments.
The Tobias Mayer House is described in the list of cultural monuments at
the state monument office (Landesdenkmalamt) of Baden-Wuerttemberg as
follows: "Built around 1700, former craftsman house; two story, with
massive ground floor, that was once comprised of a cartwright's workshop,
and half-timbered upper floor. [...] The simple craftsman house, which
was built in 1711 for the well attendant and cartwright Tobias Mayer, whose
son Tobias Mayer was born here on February 17, 1723. Tobias Mayer was
known as mathematician and astronomer especially for the enhancements he
made upon astronomical instruments and the development of a method of
navigation. As a well preserved minor craftsman house and as the birth
house of Tobias Mayer, the building is a cultural monument for both
scientific and local heritage reasons; its preservation is of public
interest due to its documentary and exemplary worth." After at least one
total renovation in the year 1859, and a huge repair job, including a
renovation of the cellar (1920-1930?), another thorough renovation started
in 1979, along with the set-up of a memorial room on the ground level
for Tobias Mayer.
Last and not least, on the grounds of his pioneering work he accomplished
in the field of ship navigation, and for the solving of certain difficult
navigation problems, Tobias Mayer can be seen as a pioneer of modern car
piloting and navigation systems. From April 27 to May 21, 1995, an exhibit
took place in the town hall in Marbach. The theme: Tobias Mayer - Pionier
of positioning - pioneering the way towards modern systems of navigation.
This exhibition will also be shown next year in Esslingen and in the
Planetarium at Nuremberg. The exhibit also boasts a beautiful catalog
(price DM 25.00; can be acquired from the society).
After completely acquiring the museum, the Tobias Mayer Museum Society has
plans to expand the museum in the house's main floor and add space for
upcoming exhibits. The present permanent exhibit, dedicated to Tobias
Mayer's life, will be complimented by changing exhibits which will portray
different aspects of his life and works, for example, cartography,
astronomy, moon maps, instrument making, the art of measurement, the theory
of colour, etc. Roth's collection portrays already a basic foundation of
his work. The museum should be manned voluntarily (for example, on the
first and third Sunday of each month) which will make the house accessable
to the general public; at present access is being granted only by
appointment. The upper floors of the house will be used as a scientific
work area, or rented out to persons working on the same goals as the
society; through which the operating costs of the house / museum will be
collected.
At this time, the society is searching for sponsors, which could finance
the buying of the house. In this, the society is getting support from the
city and the Mayor of Marbach, Heinz Georg Keppler.
(Donation account: No. 309 12 43 at Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg,
BLZ 604 500 50)
Suggested reading:
Forbes, E.G.: Tobias Mayer (1723-62): Pioneer of enlightened science in
Germany. Goettingen 1980 (engl. original), Marbach 1993 (German
translation)
Roth, E.: Tobias Mayer 1723-1762. Vermesser des Meeres, der Erde und des
Himmels. Esslingen in alten und neuen Karten. Esslingen 1985
Anthes, E. et al. (Hrsg.): Tobias Mayer und die Zeit der Aufklaerung.
Marbach 1990
Reprints of Mayer's maps by the State Surveying Office
(Landesvermessungsamt) of Baden-Wuerttemberg: Circulus Austriacus
1747/1984; Mappierung der Landkarten 1745/1984; Mappa Critica 1750/1987;
Circulus Sueviae 1743-48/1989.
Editor's notes:
This essay appeared in "Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" (the German
printed version of this newsletter) No. 7, December 1995, p. 1. Since
the beginning of the year 1996 the society has been in possession of the
birth house of Tobias Mayer. It was bought for DM 350,000 from E. Roth,
to which the city of Marbach contributed DM 52,000. A part of the sum was
finanzed through an interest free loan with members of the society. The
society is therefore interested in donations, in order to offset the credit
they have had to take out in order to finance the acquiring of the house.
Please contact the society, if you want to either donate funds, or become a
member.
A list of the deliverable publications (31 in all) can be obtained with the
society: Torgasse 13, D-71672 Marbach a. N., Germany, Tel.: (07144) 16942
...........................................................................
Item 2 ENHA No. 19, April 9, 1997
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A transparent celestial atlas (1826) by Franz Niklaus Koenig
------------------------------------------------------------
By Thomas Kloeti, Bern
On the occassion of the special exhibit "Sensations: World-Views on the
Road" (see WWW page http://www.mso.ch/PTT-Museum/Speciald.htm),
reproductions from the 'Atlas celeste' (1826) by Bernese artist Franz
Niklaus Koenig are shown from November 23, 1996, to August 24, 1997, in the
Swiss PTT Museum (Schweizerisches PTT-Museum) in Bern.
The pages of this nearly unknown atlas, as well as the essay "Die Welt,
eine Augenweide: Transparente Landschafts- und Sternbilder von Franz
Niklaus Koenig" (in German) are available in the exhibit catalog
(pgs. 35-40) as well as on through the Internet server of the City and
University Library of Bern:
http://www.stub.unibe.ch/stub/koenig/koenig.html (essay, in German)
http://www.stub.unibe.ch/stub/koenig/celestial.html (pictures, with
English text)
As fas as I am aware, there were no comparable products at that time.
The Bernese professor of mathematics Trechsel wrote in the foreword to the
atlas:
"King's idea - to have a small celestial atlas for lovers of the knowledge
of the stars, which is broken up into several sections, where the fixed
stars, from the first to the fifth magnitude, would show up transparently
on a black background - is inspired, ingenious, and for the most part, a
new concept. It will also receive approval and encouragement from experts
and learned men in this field."
The purpose of the celestial atlas is well described in the foreword by
Prof. Trechsel, who adds that it can also be used for (home) teaching of
the young. The sheets may be viewed in reflected or in transmitted light.
It is probable that the atlas was also viewed in a peep show box.
I assume that King copied from the stellar atlas of Fortin (1776).
King compiled different types of his work. Examples may be found in the
City and University Library of Bern, in the Museum of Art in Bern, as well
as at the ETH Library in Zurich. The Swiss National Library
(Schweizerische Landesbibliothek) owns a copy called called "Aestrognosie
..." containing an additional dedication page.
I would gladly hear about other copies of this atlas, and how King's
celestial atlas is regarded from the point of view of historians of
astronomy.
Exhibit Catalog:
Sensationen. Welt-Schau auf Wanderschaft
Kurt Stadelmann (Ed.)
Bern: PTT-Museum, 1996. 90 pp.
(Schriftenreihe des PTT-Museums)
ISBN 3-908231-05-1, Price 20 SFr. including shipping
Distribution: PTT-Museum, Helvetiastrasse 16, CH-3000 Bern 6,
Switzerland, Fax: ++41 (0)31 338 39 27
Author's address:
Dr. Thomas Kloeti
Stadt- und Universitaetsbibliothek Bern
Sammlung Ryhiner
Muenstergasse 61-63
CH-3000 Bern 7
Switzerland
Tel. ++41 31 320 32 48
Fax ++41 31 320 32 99
E-Mail: kloeti@stub.unibe.ch
URL: http://www.stub.unibe.ch/stub/ryhiner/ryhiner.html
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Item 3 ENHA No. 19, April 9, 1997
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Authors for history of science essays needed
--------------------------------------------
[Editor's note:
This request had been intended for German-speaking readers, since
only German manuscripts may be accepted. It appears here only for
completeness, because ENHA is a 1:1 translation of EMA, the German
original.]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The monthly journal "Schweizerische Technische Zeitschrift STZ" is
planning starting from May 1997 to add a page dedicated to the history of
science or technology. For this, we are searching for competent authors
who would like to make a contribution.
The content of the contribution have not necessarily to be connected with
Switzerland. All themes be it people, institutions, events, or instruments,
are admissable subjects, so long as the topic does not be of interest only
for a very local place outside Switzerland.
The editors have a strong interest, that each contribution is supplemented
by an attractive illustration (photo or graph).
The authors will be paid an honorary of 150 to 200 Swiss Franks, depending
on expenses.
I invite all those interested to please get in contact with me.
The best to do so is to send me a short email, or post card.
Or you can give me a call at: Tel. 07071 - 29 78 605.
I look forward to many submissions!
With warm wishes!
Frank Krull
Redaktor STZ
Charlottenstr. 11
D-72070 Tuebingen
Germany
Tel. 07071 - 29 78 605 (university)
or 07071 - 44 00 19 (home)
e-mail: krull@ait.physik.uni-tuebingen.de
...........................................................................
Item 4 ENHA No. 19, April 9, 1997
...........................................................................
Request for material on the history of lunar studies
----------------------------------------------------
A student and I are beginning work on a WWW homepage dealing with the Moon.
We want this page to be comprehensive, including information on and links
to sites dealing with the history of lunar studies. We would be pleased to
receive the URLs for appropriate links and would welcome the loan of any
relevant material that could be digitized and added in toto to the site.
We will include examples of all historic lunar maps that we can access,
references to publications dealing with lunar science and history, a
digital atlas of the Moon, a comprehensive bibliography of lunar books, a
complete list of all lunar craters with names or diameters >20 km (with
depths and diameters), and, hopefully, complete texts of some of the
classic selenography books. We welcome all help and suggestions.
Thank you, Charles A. Wood
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles A. Wood Tel: 701-777-3167; Fax 701-777-3711
Space Studies, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9008, USA
Space.Edu: www.space.edu VolcanoWorld: volcano.und.nodak.edu
E-mail: cwood@badlands.nodak.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Item 5 ENHA No. 19, April 9, 1997
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Conferences 1997
----------------
Further conferences in the year 1997 have already been described in past
issues of the ENHA. For a complete list of all conferences announced up to
now, please see the following WWW address:
http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/hist_astr/ha_meet_1997.html
An annual "Polish School for the History of Mathematics" is being held
in each summer in Poland.
Information: Dr. Stanislaw Fudali, Uniwersytet Szczecinski, Instytut
Matematyki, ul. Wielkopolska 15, PL-70-451 Szczecin
19 - 20 March 1997, Munich, Germany
VIIth Conference on the History of Physics about "100 years of discovery of
radioactivity and the electron - the controversal entrance to the
microworld", in the framework of the 61th Physicists' Conference of the
Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (German Physical Society)
Information: Dr. Dieter Hoffmann, MPI fuer Wissenschaftsgeschichte,
Wilhelmstr. 44, D-10117 Berlin, Germany, Tel.: 030/22667-117,
Fax: 22667-299, e-mail: dh@mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de
21 - 25 April 1997, Vienna, Austria
Symposium "Pioneers in Solar-Terrestrial Physics during the 19th and 20th
Centuries", to be held during the Meeting of the European Geophysical
Society
Deadline for abstracts: 1 December 1996
Convener: Dr. Wilfried Schroeder, Hechelstr. 8, D-28777 Bremen-Roennebeck,
Germany
28 May - 1 June 1997, Calw, Germany
4th Meeting of the Section for the History of Mathematics (Fachsektion
Geschichte der Mathematik) of the German Mathematical Association
(Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung)
The cultural programme includes also a visit to the Kepler Museum at
Weil der Stadt.
Place: Staatliche Akademie fuer Lehrerfortbildung
4-day accomodation (full board and lodging): 300 DM,
single-room supplement 20 DM, conference fee 30 DM
Registration by Febrary 15, 1997, to: Prof. Dr. Michael von Renteln,
Mathematisches Institut I, Universitaet Karlsruhe, Englerstr. 2,
D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany, Tel.: 0721/608-3337 or -2056 (secretarian),
Fax: 608-6214
10 - 11 October 1997, Schloss Seggau near Leibnitz (Steiermark),
Austria
Annual Meeting of the Working Group for Sundials in the Austrian
Astronomical Society (Arbeitsgruppe Sonnenuhren im Oesterreichischen
Astronomischen Verein)
Information: Karl Schwarzinger, Am Tigls 76A, A-6073 Sistrans, Austria,
Phone and Fax: 0512 / 37 8 68
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Imprint
-------
Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy (ENHA)
A translation of "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte"
Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in the
Astronomische Gesellschaft
Editor: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick <wdi@potsdam.ifag.de>
Translated and Co-Edited by: Mr. Donald Bellunduno
<76450.1741@compuserve.com>
All items without an author's name are editorial contributions.
Articles as well as information for the several sections are appreciated.
Subscription for ENHA is free. Readers and subscribers are asked for
occasional voluntary donations to the working group.
Copyright Statement:
The Electronic Newsletters for the History of Astronomy may be freely
re-distributed in the case that no charge is imposed. Public offer in
WWW servers, BBS etc. is allowed after the editor has been informed.
Non-commercial reproduction of single items in electronic or printed media
is possible only with the editor's permission.
The electronic newsletters are complement the printed "Mitteilungen zur
Astronomiegeschichte" (in German) which currently appear semi-annually:
Price: DM 1.50 / issue plus postage and packing costs
outside Germany: free
Subscription: Send in DM 2.50 (one issue) or DM 5.00 (Nos. 10-11) in
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Editor: Dr. W. R. Dick, Otterkiez 14,
D-14478 Potsdam, Germany, Tel.: (+331) 863199
Please ask for a free trial issue.
Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte / Working Group for the History of
Astronomy:
URL: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/aa/aa.html
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Peter Brosche, Observatorium Hoher List der
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