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Electronic newsletter for the history of astronomy 23
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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 23, October 2, 1997 *
* *
* A translation of *
* *
* ELEKTRONISCHE MITTEILUNGEN ZUR ASTRONOMIEGESCHICHTE *
* Nr. 23, 17. Juni 1997 *
* *
* Edited by: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick <wdi@potsdam.ifag.de> *
* *
* Translated by: Mr. Donald Bellunduno <76450.1741@CompuServe.COM> *
* *
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Contents
--------
Editor's Note
1. Meeting of the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in Innsbruck
2. Conference Announcement: Sixth Annual Convention of the Antique
Telescope Society at Mt. Wilson Observatory, Sept. 12-15, 1997
3. Museums and Exhibits
4. Memorials
5. Historical Sunspot Observations by Fink and Soemmering/Carrington:
Addendum to ENHA No. 22, Item 1
6. Conferences 1997
7. New Books
Acknowledgements
Imprint
...........................................................................
Editor's Note
-------------
Unfortunately, due to several circumstances Number 23 of ENHA appears with
a considerable delay. Therefore, most of the conference announcements are
now out of date. The editor and the translator apologize for this.
To avoid delays in the future, the German and the English editions will be
separated. All subscribers will be informed about the details, which have
still to be worked out.
Wolfgang R. Dick
...........................................................................
Item 1 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
Meeting of the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in Innsbruck
----------------------------------------------------------------------
[Abridged and updated version of the announcement]
The meeting in the framework of the Fall Meeting of the Astronomische
Gesellschaft in Innsbruck was held on Monday, September 22, 1997. In
conclusion, a meeting of the members of the working group took place.
The coordinator of the meeting at Innsbruck was Dr. Anneliese Schnell. She
can be reached at the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Vienna,
Tuerkenschanzstrasse. 17, A-1180 Vienna, Tel.: (0043 1) 470 68 00 25 or
470 66 83 25 or 479 82 72 25, Fax: 470 68 00 15 or 470 66 83 15 or 479 82
72 15, e-mail: schnell@astro.ast.univie.ac.at.
Summaries of the lectures (mostly in English) are published in
"Astronomische Gesellschaft Abstract Series" No. 13, 1997.
For the programme, including translated titles of most papers, please see
our web site: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/aa/treffen1997.html .
...........................................................................
Item 2 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
Conference Announcement:
------------------------
Sixth Annual Convention of the Antique Telescope Society
at Mt. Wilson Observatory, Sept. 12-15, 1997
The Antique Telescope Society, an international society of collectors,
researchers, students, museums and librarians with an interest in the
history of the telescope and related astronomia will host its 6th annual
convention in Southern California. Venues include: Mt. Wilson
Observatory, Griffith Observatory, Hale's Solar Lab, Cal Tech & Palomar
Observatory. The convention is open to members and guests of the society,
including the general public. You do NOT have to be a member of the
society to attend (although it is more economical to do so). In the past,
ATS conventions have been first class gatherings in such places as Bath,
England, Washington D.C. (USN Observatory), Yerkes, Lick, Ricard, Sproul,
Chabot observatories and others.
"Will we get to use any of the large historic instruments?" - Yes,
currently, we have time reserved on the 60" Reflector at Mt. Wilson -
weather permitting.
"What do we do at these conventions?" - See great telescopes and
observatories with significant historical records ... Hear great
presentations related to telescopes, telescope makers, observatories, and
related topics ... Eat good food ... See members' collectible telescopes
... Observe with large, historic instruments ... Get the "insider's" tour
of these historic locations (you will get to see what the general public
rarely gets to see) ... Make acquaintances from all over the country and
other countries as well.
"What does it cost?" - Prices haven't been set, but in every past
convention, the perception of the members is that the value of the
convention FAR exceeded the cost. In all cases, the ATS tries to do things
in a first class manner and it has shown in the increased attendance and
growth of the society.
"How do I sign up?" - Email Bart Fried at nuvista@compuserve.com for
further information. As the convention gets closer, details will be
finalized and a packet will be available for anyone who wishes to consider
attending.
Program: Mt. Wilson Convention - Sept 1997
Friday 12th.
15.00 --- Registration at the Holiday Inn. 303 E. Cordova Street,
Pasadena, CA 91101.
Reservations Toll-free 1-800-457-7940
19.00 Reception. Apperitifs. Holiday Inn.
19.30 Dinner.
21.00 Keynote Speaker.
22.00 Adjourn, informal gathering at the hospitality suite
Saturday 13th.
Early departure for Mount Wilson.
9.30 Arrive and assemble at Mount Wilson. At this time the party
will divide into four or five smaller groups for tours of the
Observatory complex. Mount Wilson Docents will accompany groups
on guided tours throughout the morning. Refreshments will be
provided between 10.00 and 11.30
12.30-13.30 Buffet Lunch will be available in the auditorium.
14.00 First Paper Session.
15.30 Coffee / tea / break in the foyer.
15.50 Second Paper Session.
17.30 Adjourn. Free time until Dinner.
19.00 Buffet Dinner
20.30 Guest Lecture.
22.00 ******* Observing with the 60" Ritchey reflector.******
Sunday 14th.
9.00 A.T.S. Business Meeting (Annual General Meeting for Members
only) at the Holiday Inn.
10.15 Coffee / Tea / biscuits will be available outside the meeting
room.
10.30 Third Paper session at the Holiday Inn.
12.30 Break for Lunch.
14.00 Fourth Paper Session.
15.30-18.00 Visit to the Hale Solar Laboratory, where we will see
Hale's original setup and have a small reception and then a
visit to Caltech to see the collection of original Porter
drawings of the 200" etc.
18.00 Informal dining at local restaurants
19.30 (or later) Assemble at the Griffith Observatory. See the Planetarium
show at the Griffith Observatory and visit the Zeiss 12"
Refractor until 22.00 hrs.
*****Special Tour of the 200" Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory*****
Monday 15th
14.00 Assemble at Palomar Mountain Observatory (Maps will be
provided). We will be having a private tour inside the building,
usually off limits to visitors. Conclusion of our visit with a
brief gathering under the Hale Telescope.
...........................................................................
Item 3 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
Museums and Exhibits
--------------------
The special exhibit "Earth, Sun, Moon & the Stars: Globes, Sundials, and
Astronomical Instruments," of the Historischen Museum [Historical Museum]
of Frankfurt am Main will be available to the public from November 1996 to
about November 1997. In this exhibit, put together by Reinhard Glasemann,
the museum will display, for the first time, its complete collection of
astronomical instruments, mainly from the early modern history. The
exhibit was enhanced through pieces from the collections belonging to the
Physikalischer Verein and the Institute for History of Science.
The list of items exposed includes: 12 globes (Terrestrial globe by
Schoener from 1515 and globes by van Langren, Homann, Andreae, Doppelmayr,
Klinger and Franz); 29 sundials (by Ritter, Scriba, Nieborg, Willebrand,
Feriary, Baradelle, Vogler, Mueller, Grassl, Keller, Neringer); 5
instruments used in the construction of sundials; 10 astrolabes and related
instruments (among them Islamic from the 12th c., Islamic from the period
around 1700, two French pieces from the 15th c., from the Lower Rhine from
the 16th c.); 5 instruments from Erasmus Habermel around 1600 (sundials, a
horological slide rule and a theodolite); 3 "Aequatorien"; 6 planetariums
and world models; 9 telescopes and observational instruments (by
Semitecolo, Deregni, Willson, Utzschneider and Fraunhofer, Steinheil,
Brander and Breithaupt); 11 instruments used in positioning (by Volckmer,
Schmalkalder and Huson); 8 books; 7 paintings and drawings (technical
schematics, portraits, a bridge tower with sundial, temperaments and
planets and their influence on people, as well as an allegory). A
catalogue of the exhibit is available in manuscript form. Unfortunately,
because of financial reasons, the manuscript could not yet be printed.
Some pictures of items of the exhibit are available at the cash desk as
post cards.
Address: Historisches Museum, Saalgasse 19, D-60311 Frankfurt a. M.,
Germany, Tel. 069/212-35599, Fax 069/212-30702; Tours on appointment at
069/212-34611. With U-Bahn (subway): U4, station Roemer
Opening hours: Tues, Thurs - Sun 10 am - 5 pm, Wed 10 am - 8 pm;
Mon closed.
The Bezirksmuseum [District Museum] Brigittenau in Vienna will show from
the 3rd April up until the end of October 1997 the exhibit "Carl Friedrich
Gauss. Mathematician - Astronomer - Surveyer".
Address: Bezirksmuseum Brigittenau, Dresdner Str. 79, A-1200 Wien, Austria
Opening hours: Thurs 5-7 pm, Sun 10-12 am; free admission.
On August 30, 1997, the Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte Berlin will
re-inaugurate in a ceremony the restored Bamberg Refractor. Carl Bamberg
(150th anniversary of his birth on Juli 12, 1997) built this 12-inch
telescope in 1889 for the newly founded Berliner Gesellschaft Urania, a
society for the popularization of science.
Address: Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte, Munsterdamm 90 (am Insulaner),
D-12169 Berlin, Germany, Tel. (030) 79 00 93-0, Fax 79 00 93-12
From the 15th September until the 14th December 1997 an exhibit in
Lutherstadt Wittenberg entitled "Melanchthon and Astrology" will be shown.
Location: Lutherhalle, Collegienstr. 54, D-06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg,
Germany
Opening hours: Tues - Sun 10 am - 5 pm
(Source: http://www.sgi.de/melanchthon/expo_2.htm)
The Mainfraenkisches Museum in Wuerzburg is housing an extended collection
of ring, pocket, travel, table and other sundials, in addition single
calendars as well as mathematical, geodetic, optical and related
instruments, including hand-held telescopes. In the spring of 1997 the
museum had the collection situated in the special exhibit entitled "Time
and space: Sundials and scientific instruments" (See ENHA No. 20, Item
4). From this exhibit a catalogue is available (see section "New Books").
Specific examples from the collection are also on view to the public in the
permanent exhibit which will be reopened shortly. By arranging in advance,
the other instruments can be inspected for scientific purposes.
Address: Mainfraenkisches Museum, Festung Marienberg, D-97082 Wuerzburg,
Germany, Tel.: (0931) 4 30 16.
Opening hours: April-October Thurs-Sun 10 am - 5 pm, otherwise 10-16 pm
On September 13, 1996, after long reconstruction efforts the Archenhold
Observatory in Berlin-Treptow was reopened. On the 12th October the
observatory celebrated its 100th anniversary. The astronomical museum
could not yet be opened again, however there are display cases in the hall
in which the history of the observatory and the history of astronomy in
general are depicted. On exhibit are three instruments from the workshop of
R. Toepfer (Potsdam) from around 1950 (Hartmann microphotometer, plate
measuring instrument, spectroscope), the telescope of the Berlin "street
astronomer" Max Kutscher from 1950 and one theodolite.
Address: Archenhold-Observatory, Alt-Treptow 1, D-12435 Berlin, Germany,
Tel. 030/5 34 80 80
Public Tours: Wed 6 pm, Sat / Sun 3 pm; special events;
The observatory opens 30 minutes before the beginning of the
tours or events; reservations by telephone are recommended (Mon-Fri
8 am - 3 pm)
The Orgelbaumuseum Schloss Hanstein [Organ Museum Castle Hanstein] in
Ostheim (Rhoen) commemorates also Cuntz von der Tann (1567-1639), a
knighted captain and inhabitant of the castle. He owned astronomical
instruments and built an observational room in the castle's attic. From
his diarys, it is clear that he was in contact with both Tycho Brahe und
Johannes Kepler. - The museum would be interested in acquiring more
information on the activities of Cuntz von der Tann. His diarys have up
until today not been completely evaluated. The archives of the family von
Tann are located in Deutsches Adelsarchiv, Schwanalle 21, 3D5037 Marburg,
Germany.
Address: Orgelbaumuseum Schloss Hanstein, Paulinenstr. 20, 97645 Ostheim,
Germany, Tel. 09777/1743.
Opening hours: Wed - Sat 10 - 12 am and 1 - 5 pm, Sun 1 - 5 pm
In the hall of the Ministry for Science, Research and Culture of the Land
of Brandenburg [Ministeriums fuer Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kultur des
Landes Brandenburg] stands a display containing nine historical instruments
on permanant loan from the collection of the Babelsberg Observatory of the
Astrophysical Institute Potsdam.
Address: Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 4, D-14467 Potsdam, Germany, Tel. 0331/866-0.
The entrance is from "Staudenhof".
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm
...........................................................................
Item 4 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
Memorials
---------
In June 1993 a memorial plaque was erected at the birth house of Friedrich
Simon Archenhold (1861-1939) in Lichtenau (Westfalen, Germany; Lange
Strasse 22) in memory of the founder of the Treptow Observatory.
Source: D. B. Herrmann, Blick in das Weltall, Berlin 1994, p. 79.
On April 21, 1995, on the occasion of the 500th birthday of Peter
Apian a memorial plaque was finally put in place at the house Markt 13 in
Leisnig (Sachsen, Germany). It is the site, most likely, where Apian was
born. The original building is said to have been burned to the ground by
fire in 1700. The exact location of his birth is not known. However,
there were several reasons why Leisnig was chosen. At the same house a
coat of arms dating back to May 23, 1870, is put up, with an
inscription pointing at Apian. In Leisnig also public places have been
dedicated to the astronomer and cartographer: Peter-Apian-Platz and
Peter-Apian-Mittelschule. - The Grossgemeinde [united municipality]
Seubersdorf (Oberpfalz, Germany) named in 1995 a small street in
Ittelhofen, in the vicinity of the church, after Apian; in April 1995 a
street sign was erected at Apianstrasse. The Hofmark [farm march]
Ittelhofen belonged to Apian since 1544. In the church of Ittelhofen can
be found an epitaph for Apian's son Claudius as well as one for his son
Karl (Carolus) and Karl's wife Ursula.
Source: K. Roettel (Ed.), Peter Apian, Eichstaett 1995, pp. 26f., 64f.,
284, 336.
On March 20, 1996, a memorial plaque was erected on the director's house of
the Jena University Observatory (Schillergaesschen 3) for Hermann Lambrecht
(1908-1983), which was donated by the Gesellschaft der Freunde und
Foerderer [Society of Friends and Patrons] of the Friedrich Schiller
University at Jena.
On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Mira in
Resterhafe (Ostfriesland) the local parish has placed a memorial plaque
on the outside of the church in Resterhafe in memory of David Fabricius
(1564-1617). The unveiling took place on August 31, 1996.
On September 13, 1996, a bronze relief of Tycho Brahe was unveiled in
Rostock on the building used by the Rostocker Volksbank (Glatter Aal). The
relief was done by Jo Jastram, and was funded by the Volksbank. A sundial
was also commemorated on the same day. On the sundial the world system of
Tycho Brahe is depicted as well as the symbols of the zodiac.
Source: Ostseezeitung, September 14, 1996.
On November 19, 1996, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the
Carl Zeiss enterprise, the reconstructed monument to Ernst Abbe was
rededicated on the Carl-Zeiss-Platz in Jena, Germany.
Source: Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten, November 20, 1996, p. 20.
...........................................................................
Item 5 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
Historical Sunspot Observations by Fink and Soemmering/Carrington:
------------------------------------------------------------------
Addendum to ENHA No. 22, Item 1
-------------------------------
Please send your replies to Douglas V. Hoyt (Greenbelt, MD, USA),
e-mail: Douglas_V_Hoyt_at_2-TAG4-HSTX@ccmail.stx.com
...........................................................................
Item 6 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
Conferences 1997
----------------
Further conferences in the years 1997 and 1998 were reported in the recent
issues of ENHA. For a complete list of all previously announced
conferences see the following URL:
http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/hist_astr/ha_meet.html
7 June 1997, Calgary, Canada
The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory 25th anniversary celebration
Further information: Dr. Eugene F. Milone, Physics & Astronomy Dept.,
The University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr., N.W.,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, E-mail: milone@acs.ucalgary.ca
URL: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~milone/raomeet.html
29-30 June 1997, Chicago, IL, USA
History Sessions at the 109th Annual Meeting of the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Further information: Dr. Joseph S. Tenn, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy,
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA 94928-3609, USA,
(707) 664-2594, Fax: (707) 664-2505, E-mail: joe.tenn@sonoma.edu
URL: http://yorty.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/tenn/ASPHistory97.html
14 September 1997, Cittadella (PD), Italy
Unione Astrofili Italiani, XXIX Congresso Nazionale,
Sessione I: Storia e Cultura Astronomica
Chairman: Francesco Azzarita, Via Fanelli 206 M, 70125 Bari, Italy
ULR (of the Congresso Nazionale):
http://www.mclink.it/mclink/astro/uai_cong.htm
3-5 October 1997, Porto San Giorgio (Ascoli Piceno), Italy
Annual meeting of the Italian gnomonists
Further information: Francesco Azzarita, azzarita.f@teseo.it
...........................................................................
Item 7 ENHA No. 23, October 2, 1997
...........................................................................
New Books
---------
Graf-Stuhlhofer, Franz: Humanismus zwischen Hof und Universitaet. Georg
Tannstetter (Collimitus) und sein wissenschaftliches Umfeld im Wien des
fruehen 16. Jahrhunderts. [Humanism between court and university. Georg
Tannstetter (Collimitus) and his scientific environment in Vienna of the
16th century.] Vienna: WUV-Universitaetsverlag, 1996. 212 pp.,
22 ilus., 23 x 15.6 cm, ISBN 3-85114-256-X, Pb ATS 268.00, DM 37.00
[About Tannstetter, called Collimitius (1482-1535), and his work as
mathematician and astronomer als well as a pionier of the historiography
of science, physician, cartographer and astrological adviser.]
Grigull, Ulrich: Sechzig Jahre Kepler-Kommission. [The 60th anniversary
of the Kepler Commission.] Munich: Verlag der Bayerischen Akademie der
Wissenschaften, 1996. 39 pp., ISBN 3-7696-4739-4
(Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-
naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, Sitzungsberichte 1996, Sonderdruck 1)
Krafft, Fritz (Ed.): Otto von Guericke. Neue Magdeburger Versuche ueber
den leeren Raum. [Otto von Guericke. New Magdeburg experiments about the
empty space.] 2nd, enl. ed. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1996. CVIII,
306 pp., 52 illus., 18 tabs., ISBN 3-540-62248-9, Hb DM 68.00 (VDI-Buch)
[Complete German translation (1968) of the Latin work published in 1672,
being also of importance for the history of astronomy. With an extended
introduction "Otto von Guericke in his time".]
Schenkel, Peter Michael: Gesammelte Werke. Register zu
Band I: Mysterium Cosmographicum, De Stella Nova. [Johannes Kepler,
Collected works. Index to Vol. I: Mysterium Cosmographicum, De Stella
Nova.] Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1997. 60 pp.
(Berichte der Keplerkommission, Heft 8)
[Distribution through exchange of publications only.]
Wagner, Gerhard G.: Sonnenuhren und wissenschaftliche Instrumente. Aus den
Sammlungen des Mainfraenkischen Museums Wuerzburg. [Sundials and
scientific instruments. From the collections of the Mainfraenkisches Museum
Wuerzburg.] Wuerzburg: Mainfraenkisches Museum Wuerzburg, 1997. 280 pp.,
numerous illus., partly in colour, ISBN 3-932461-00-2,
Pb DM 25.00 + DM 7.00 postage
[Catalogue of the museum's collection of sundials and single mathematical,
geodetic, optical (including hand-held telescopes) and other instruments
(see above, Item 3). Published on occasion of the special exhibit "Time
and space: Sundials and scientific instruments", Spring 1997 (see ENHA
No. 20, Item 4). Distribution: Mainfraenkisches Museum, Festung
Marienberg, D-97082 Wuerzburg, Germany, Tel.: (0931) 4 30 16. Please
enclose cheque.]
...........................................................................
Acknowledgements
----------------
For information we are indebted to:
Volker Bialas (Munich), Reinhard Glasemann (Frankfurt a.M.), Willi
Knuelle (Cologne), Wolfgang Meirich (Ilsede), Leopold Mersich
(Muerzzuschlag), Rolf Riekher (Berlin), Reinhard Schielicke (Jena),
Burkhard Stautz (Frankfurt a.M.), Bernhard Zimmermann (Warnemuende),
Mainfraenkisches Museum Wuerzburg, Orgelbaumuseum Schloss Hanstein.
...........................................................................
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:
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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
Sternwarte der Universitaet Bonn, D-54550 Daun, Germany,
Tel.: (+6592) 2150, Fax: (+6592) 985140
Secretary: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick, Institut fuer Angewandte Geodaesie,
Aussenstelle Potsdam, Postfach 60 08 08, D-14408 Potsdam, Germany,
Tel.: (+331) 316 618, E-mail: wdi@potsdam.ifag.de
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