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Electronic newsletter for the history of astronomy 15
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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 15, June 13, 1996 *
* *
* A translation of *
* *
* ELEKTRONISCHE MITTEILUNGEN ZUR ASTRONOMIEGESCHICHTE *
* Nr. 15, 11. Juni 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. Harry Jamieson: In Search of an Historian
2. Conference Announcement:
Journees Systemes de Reference Spatio-Temporels.
Two centuries of evolution of "Systeme du Monde". Homage to Laplace
3. Bart Fried:
Conference Announcement: Antique Telecope Society Annual Convention
4. Conference Announcement: Humanizing the Medieval Sciences
5. DISPUTATIO: An International Transdisciplinary Journal of the
Late Middle Ages. Call for Papers
6. Conferences 1996/97
Expressions of thanks
Imprint
...........................................................................
Item 1 ENHA No. 15, June 13, 1996
...........................................................................
In Search of an Historian
-------------------------
By Harry Jamieson, USA
The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers is an international group
of amateur and professional astronomers (membership, about 650) devoted to
solar system astronomy.
Having Clyde Tombaugh as a founding (and current!) member is only one of
the many reasons why we have become interested in forming an Historical
Section. We would like to find someone to work with us in forming such a
Section and running it for us. As an amateur organization, all of our
staff positions are unpaid, but we are hoping to find someone with a
strong interest in working with a group of enthusiastic amateurs.
Interested persons can find out more about our organization by writing to
me or visting our home page at http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo/.
Editor's Note: Harry Jamieson is the Executive Director of the Association
of Lunar and Planetary Observers. His E-mail address is
104145.754@CompuServe.COM .
...........................................................................
Item 2 ENHA No. 15, June 13, 1996
...........................................................................
Conference Announcement: Journees Systemes de Reference Spatio-Temporels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOURNEES SYSTEMES DE REFERENCE SPATIO-TEMPORELS 1996
Deux siecles d'evolution du Systeme du Monde. Hommage a Laplace
Two centuries of evolution of "Systeme du Monde". Homage to Laplace
Scientific organizing committee : N. Capitaine (Chair), M. Amalvict,
C. Balkowski, P. Bretagnon, S. Debarbat, J.- P. Verdet
Local organizing committee : S. Debarbat (Chair), M. Alibert,
L. Garin, A. Hayot, F. Medina
Venue : Henri-Mineur Amphitheatre, Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris
& Building B, Observatoire de Paris, 75014 - Paris
23-24-25 September 1996
At the end of the fifth Journees Systemes de reference spatio-temporels
which was organized in Paris in 1992, it was decided that future meetings
will held alternately in Paris and other European centers. Thus, Journees
1994 has been organized in Paris and Journees 1995 at the Space Research
Center in Warsaw. The Journees 1996 will held in Paris on 23-25 September
1996, in honour of the first publication (1796) of P.S. Laplace's Systeme
du Monde.
The programme will be divided into six sessions, each of them devoted to
a topic studied by Laplace and developed in contemporary research. Each
session will include introductory talks, oral and poster presentations.
The participants will have the opportunity to visit the Neptune
exhibition at Paris Observatory in commemoration of Neptune's discovery
by Le Verrier in 1846. They will also be able to observe Neptune at the
Paris Observatory as was done for the first time on September 23 rd,
1846 by Galle and d'Arrest in Berlin. Communications languages will be
French, and occasionally English.
Preliminary program
Monday 23 September
morning : I) DES "MOUVEMENS" CELESTES AUX SYSTEMES DE REFERENCE
topics : Des "MOUVEMENS" apparents et "MOUVEMENS" reels des
corps celestes consideres par Laplace aux definitions et
realisations actuelles des systemes de reference dans le cadre de
la Relativite Generale, ...
afternoon : II) LE CHAMP DE PESANTEUR TERRESTRE ET SES VARIATIONS
topics : De la Figure de la Terre et de la theorie des marees de
Laplace au geoide actuel et a la modelisation recente des
marees oceaniques a partir de la geodesie spatiale, ...
evening : Visit of Neptune's exhibition and observation of Neptune
Thuesday 24 September
morning : III) THEORIES PLANETAIRES ET STABILITE DU SYSTEME SOLAIRE
topics : La stabilite du Systeme solaire, de Laplace a nos
jours, de la Mecanique Celeste de Laplace aux theories
planetaires actuelles, ...
afternoon : IV) DES COSMOLOGIES AUX GRANDES STRUCTURES DE
L'UNIVERS
topics : Historique des cosmologies, formation des grandes
structures de l'Univers, ...
evening : Preliminary to session V), visit of cesium fountain of LPTF
Buffet for the registred participants
Wenesday 25 September
morning : V) DU TEMPS ASTRONOMIQUE AU TEMPS ATOMIQUE
topics : Le temps et sa mesure, evolution des echelles de temps
et de la mesure du temps, ...
afternoon : VI) REPRESENTATION MATHEMATIQUE ET REPRESENTATION
PHYSIQUE DE L'UNIVERS
topics : Operateurs mathematiques en mecanique celeste et geophysique
(Laplacien, Lagrangien, Hamiltonien, ...), distances cosmiques et
constante de Hubble, Grand Attracteur, ...
PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
To be sent back not later than 30 April 1996 either to F. Medina,
DANOF/URA 1125, Observatoire de Paris, 61 Avenue de l'observatoire,
75014 Paris, France, or to danof@danof.obspm.fr.
First Name .................. Last Name ....................
Institution ..................................................
Adress .......................................................
Phone, Fax, E-Mail ...........................................
. plans to attend the Journees 1996 Systemes de Reference
Spatio-temporels: "Two centuries of evolution of "Systeme du
Monde". Homage to Laplace", Paris, on 23-24-25 September 1996.
YES or NO
. and proposes to contribute by a presentation untiled
.concerning session Num. ............ (cf preliminary program)
- oral communication
. Proposed form
- poster
. Would like to receive the provisional program and the final registration
form which will be send on May 1996.
YES or NO
...........................................................................
Item 3 ENHA No. 15, June 13, 1996
...........................................................................
Conference Announcement: Antique Telecope Society Annual Convention
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Bart Fried, USA
ANTIQUE TELESCOPE SOCIETY ANNUAL CONVENTION
CITIES OF BATH / LONDON
Sept 27th to Oct 1st 1996
The Convention will be in two parts. EACH WILL REQUIRE SEPARATE
REGISTRATION. The first part will be the Conference meeting from
mid-afternoon on Friday 27th September to Sunday evening the 29th of
September. The second part will be a tour of many historic sites and
instrument collections from early Monday morning 30th September to
Wednesday morning 3rd of October- See enclosed itinerary. For complete
agenda, registration and cost information, contact Dr. Walter Breyer,
whbreyer@aol.com, Dr. Ron Maddison, ronmadd@digital.net,325 Island Oaks
Place, Merritt Island, Florida 32953, (407)-453-4723, or Bart Fried,
bsfried@aol.com or 71223.3430@compuserve.com.
CONFERENCE
FRIDAY 27th Sept.
Registration at the FRANCIS HOTEL, Bath.
Civic Reception in the Pump Room at the Roman Baths.
Welcome by the Lord Mayor or his Deputy.
Short tours of the torch-lit Roman Baths.
Banquet in the historic Pump Room.
Keynote Address by Dr. Allan Chapman.
Adjourn to Francis Hotel for informal social activities.
SATURDAY 28th Sept.
Paper Session (1)
Break for COFFEE adjoining Aix-en-Provence Room
Paper Session (2)
Lunch
Paper Session (3)
Afternoon tea
Paper Session (4)
Aperitifs, dinner
Invited Lecture by Dr. Patrick Moore.C.B.E.
Adjourn to Francis Hotel for social activities.
SUNDAY 29th Sept.
Juried displays and exhibits of member's and guests' antique telescopes,
books, atlases, binoculars.
Coffee reception at the William Herschel House, Headquarters of the
"Herschel Society".
Lunch
Paper Session (5)
afternoon tea
Paper Session (6)
Aperitifs dinner, Presentation of medals/awards
Invited Lecture (to be announced)
Adjourn to Francis Hotel for informal social events.
TOURS
The following tours will be by specially designed touring coaches (two)
described as follows by the company:- 'Both coaches are equipped with
forced air ventilation, video, toilet / washroom, servery, a small 'fridge
and reclining seats. Complimentary drinks i.e. tea, coffee and chocolate
will be on board. The Coaches will stay with us throughout the two days.
MONDAY 30th Sept.
BLYTHE HOUSE COLLECTION - The Store contains items such as: The Nasmyth
20" alt-azimuth; the Oxford Heliometer; the Smyth equatorial; the
Groombridge Circle; and the Kew photoheliograph. There are numerous other
exhibits including the 48" Herschel speculum etc. SCIENCE MUSEUM IN
EXHIBITION ROAD: The Rosse 72" speculum from Birr Castle and a fine scale
model of the telescope; the Complete Isaac Roberts Observatory (set up on
the roof) containing a Grubb 20" reflector with a 7" refractor on the same
mounting; and Caroline Herschel's own telescope. CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE,
which is the headquarters of the Royal Society: View the original Newton
Reflector, the Royal Society Library where a small exhibition will have
been mounted. Time for NEARBY AREAS OF INTEREST in Central London such as
Westminster, Buckingham Palace, or the main stores around the general area
of Piccadilly Circus. There is also the main collection of Trevor Philips
(Antique Scientific Instruments etc.) close by in Jermyn Street.
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON OBSERVATORY in Mill Hill Park, North London: Several
historic instruments; The main instrument is a 24" photographic refractor,
carrying an 18" visual refractor on the same mount, both made by Grubb in
1902 originally for the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford. There is also a
6" refractor by Cooke, known as the Joynson Telescope, and a modern 24"
reflector by Ealing Beck. DINNER, ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, WORDSWORTH ROOM,
(Where William Wordsworth lived when he was a student, and where John
Herschel was a student and later became a Fellow.
TUESDAY 1st October
WHIPPLE MUSEUM in Free School Lane: This museum houses a fine collection
of many early telescopes including:- Three refractors by Jesse Ramsden (
1770, 1770 and 1785), one by J. Yarwell (1675), a Dollond of London
(1880), two reflectors by James Short (1760 and 1763), a reflector by
Nairne and Blunt of London (1793), one by John Cuthbert of London (1826),
a Herschel of (1790), a reflector by John Cuff of London (1740), A
refractor by Wray (1875) and an early object glass by Christopher Cock of
London (1668). INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMY AND OBSERVATORIES, Madingley Road.
- Items available for viewing will include the following:-The 11.75"
Northumberland telescope (which originally contained a fine triplet by
Cauchoix of Paris - but now has a fine doublet by Hysom), the 8"
Thorrowgood telescope by Cooke (which was once owned by Rev. W.R. Dawes.),
the 36"reflector by Grubb, and a new design prototype 20" three-mirror,
totally achromatic, wide field fast camera by Willstrop and Hysom. This
will be explained and demonstrated by its designer Dr. Roderick Willstrop
of Cambridge University Observatory. WOOLSTHORPE MANOR, BIRTHPLACE OF SIR
ISAAC NEWTON. During our visit light refreshments, including apple cake
and apple pie, will be provided 'Under the Apple Tree' by a group of local
ladies while smaller groups tour the house. OLD ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN
GREENWICH PARK. - The main instrument is the 28" Grubb refractor (built in
1893) which is mounted in a classical English equatorial, between an open
lattice polar yoke, inside the well known onion dome landmark. We hope to
be able to use the telescope, but this obviously depends on favorable
weather conditions. There may be time during the evening to tour some of
the other buildings, such as Flamsteed House, the Octagon Room, and the
Transit telescope marking the Prime Meridian. The Old Royal Observatory
now houses the famous collection of Harrison navigational chronometers as
well as an extensive collection of early astronomical instruments. The
Octagon Room contains several original instruments and the Airy Transit
telescope marks the Zero Meridian of longitude - marked by a brass plaque
in front of the building.
WEDNESDAY 2nd OCTOBER
Follow-up leisurely visit to Old Royal Observatory and / or visit to
neighboring Maritime Museum. The Maritime Museum contains navigational
instruments and a fine collection of models and naval memorabilia.
...........................................................................
Item 4 ENHA No. 15, June 13, 1996
...........................................................................
Conference Announcement: Humanizing the Medieval Sciences
---------------------------------------------------------
Special CEMERS Session
1996 30th Annual CEMERS Conference
Binghamton, NY
October 18 - 19, 1996
Requesting presentations on integrative and interdisciplinary research and
teaching projects linking the medieval sciences and humanities. I am
interested in practical approaches to the teaching of natural philosophy,
medicine, astronomy, astrology, quadrivial sciences, etc. in medieval
studies programs and how these pedagogies can be situated in broader
cultural patterns and linked to literary, philosophical, legal, and other
humanistic studies. Case studies would be welcome: how is your program
teaching (or not teaching) medieval science? What sorts of institutional
and departmental support do you receive for interdisciplinary work? What
integrative projects have worked well for you?
NOTE: Topic extended to medieval sciences and technology exclusively.
REPLY (early replies appreciated) by June 1, 1996 with 500 word abstract
or complete 20 minute presentation and brief description of research
interests and / or CV to:
A. S. Weber
Box 217
Department English
SUNY Binghamton
Binghamton, NY 13902
br00126@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu
607 - 773 - 4755 (H)
607 - 777 - 2168 (W)
607 - 777 - 2408 (FAX)
Other Abstracts, Inquiries to:
Charles Burroughs, Director, CEMERS
Binghamton University
P.O. Box 6000
Binghamton, NY 13902 - 6000
TEL: 607 - 777 - 2730
E-Mail: CEMERS@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu
...........................................................................
Item 5 ENHA No. 15, June 13, 1996
...........................................................................
DISPUTATIO: An International Transdisciplinary Journal of the
-------------------------------------------------------------
Late Middle Ages. Call for Papers
---------------------------------
*Disputatio* is an international transdisciplinary annual of the
late middle ages (ca. 1300-1550) published by Northwestern University
Press. Each issue provides exhaustive and diverse treatments of one
significant example of late medieval culture by scholars representing
various nations, approaches, and disciplines. We feature scholarly
articles, inclusive review essays, and a comprehensive bibliography
on each issue topic.
FALL 1997 ISSUE: *Constructions of Time in the Late Middle Ages*
SUBMISSIONS DUE: November 1, 1996
Scholarly articles and research notes concerning all aspects of late
medieval constructions of time are welcome. Topics may include but
are not limited to:
-Time and narrative
-Eternity and perpetuity
-Time, space, and infinity
-Time and authority
-Future contingents
-Artistic portrayals of time
-Travel and time
-Law and time
-Gender and time
-Human life cycle
-"Kairos"
-Nominalist and realist perspectives on time
-Clocks, work, and time (Werkglocken)
-The late medieval calendar
-Mysticism and time
-Meter, rhythm, and time
-Succession, inheritance, and generations
-Memoria
-Eschatology
-Tense structures in late medieval languages
-Cosmology and cosmogeny
-Allegories of time
Length is 4,000-12,000 words for articles, 2,500 words for research
notes. If you are interested in writing review or bibliographic essays,
please contact us. We will consider articles in English or either major
European languages or Latin with substantial abstracts in English.
Please ask for our style sheet.
ADDRESS: Carol Poster and Richard Utz, Editors
*Disputatio*
English Department, Baker 115
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614
e-mail: disputatio@cobra.uni.edu
...........................................................................
Item 6 ENHA No. 15, June 13, 1996
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Conferences 1996/97
-------------------
21 - 23 June 1996, Isili, Italy
Convegno di studi "I nuraghi archeologia, astronomia, architettura"
Contacts: Compagnia dell'Arco, C.A.P. 08033 Via Dante, 50 Isili, Italy,
tel. 0782/802973-802736-802443
3 July 1996, London, UK
Annual General Meeting of the Society of Antiquaries
Place: Burlington House, Piccadily, London W1
Lectures: "Behind the Stars" by Gerard Turner, "Arithmometers" by S.
Johnston, "Weights & Measures" by A.D.C. Simpson
15 - 17 July 1996, Goettingen, Germany
VII Workshop on the History of Modern Mathematics
Information: Dr. Hans J. Becker, Niedersaechische Staats- und
Universitaetsbibliothek, Platz der Goettinger Sieben 1, D-37073 Goettingen,
Germany
15 - 20 September 1996, Jena, Germany
Annual Conference of the German Mathematical Society [Jahrestagung der
Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung]; Session 7 "History and Philosophy of
Mathematics" [Sektion 7 "Geschichte und Philosophie der Mathematik"]
Information: Prof. Dr. Hans-Juergen Engelbert, Fakultaet fuer Mathematik
und Informatik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena, D-07740 Jena,
Germany, Tel. 03641/630819 or 631107
26 October 1996, London (Greenwich), UK
Scientific Instrument Society's visit to the National Maritime Museum
Reserve Collection in The Old Observatory, Greenwich, London SE10
26 - 31 October 1996, Nice, France
121eme Congres National des Societes Historiques et Scientifiques
The session on "Histoire des sciences et des techniques" is on the topic
of "Astronomie et astronomes dans le comte de Nice et la France
meridionale". Registration had to be before March 31, 1996, but it seems
to be flexible.
Contacts: Suzanne Debarbat (Paris Observatory) and Paul
Brouzeng (LIREST, Bat307, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France)
3 - 7 March 1997, Potsdam, Germany
Colloqium on the History of Geophysics during the Annual Conference of
the German Geophysical Society [Jahrestagung der Deutschen
Geophysikalischen Gesellschaft]
Information: Dr. Wilfried Schroeder, Hechelstr. 8,
D-28777 Bremen-Roennebeck, Germany
28 May - 1 June 1997, Calw, Germany
4th Meeting of the Special Section "History of Mathematics" of the German
Mathematical Society [4. Tagung der Fachsektion "Geschichte der Mathematik"
der Deutschen Mathematiker-Vereinigung]
Place: Staatliche Akademie fuer Lehrerfortbildung in Calw in the Northern
Black Forest [Nordschwarzwald]
Information: Prof. Dr. Michael von Renteln, Universitaet Karlsruhe,
Mathematisches Institut I, Englerstr. 2, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany,
Tel. 0721/608-3037 (-2056 Sekr.)
...........................................................................
Expressions of thanks
---------------------
In addition to the authors of contribution, we also wish to thank:
Hayot Alain (Paris), Emmanuel Davoust (Toulouse), Otfried Lieberknecht
(Berlin), Wilfried Schroeder (Bremen), Michael Toepell (Leipzig/Muenchen).
...........................................................................
Imprint
-------
Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy (ENHA)
Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in the
Astronomische Gesellschaft
A translation of "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte"
Editor: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick <wdi@potsdam.ifag.de>
Translated 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.
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 permitted when the source is indicated clearly; the editor has to be
informed.
Subscription to EMA/ENHA is free. Subscribers and readers are asked
for occasional donations to the working group.
(Printed) Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte (in German):
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. 8-9) in
stamps to the editor
Editor: Dr. W. R. Dick, Otterkiez 14,
D-14478 Potsdam, Germany, Tel.: (+331) 863199
Astronomische Gesellschaft / Astronomical Society:
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Hanns Ruder, University of Tuebingen, Theoretical
Astrophysics and Computational Physics, Auf der Morgenstelle 10, D-72076
Tuebingen
Secretary: Dr. Reinhard Schielicke, Universitaetssternwarte,
Schillergaesschen 2, D-07745 Jena, Tel.: (+3641) 63 03 36,
E-mail: schie@georg.astro.uni-jena.de
Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte / Working Group for the History of
Astronomy:
Chairman: Prof. Dr. Peter Brosche, Observatorium Hoher List der
Sternwarte der Universitaet Bonn, D-54550 Daun, Germany,
Tel.: (+6592) 2150, Fax: (+6592) 2937
Secretary: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick, Institut fuer Angewandte Geodaesie,
Aussenstelle Potsdam, Postfach 60 08 08, D-14408 Potsdam, Germany,
Tel.: (+331) 316 619, E-mail: wdi@potsdam.ifag.de
Treasurer: Dr. Reinhard Schielicke, Universitaetssternwarte,
Schillergaesschen 2, D-07745 Jena, Tel.: (+3641) 63 03 36,
E-mail: schie@georg.astro.uni-jena.de
Secretary for Public Relations: Dr. Gudrun Wolfschmidt, Deutsches
Museum, Museumsinsel 1, D-80538 Muenchen, Germany, Tel.: (+89) 2179 277,
Fax: (+89) 2179 324, E-mail: t7911ac@sunmail.lrz-muenchen.de
Bank Acct. of the Working Group of the Astronomische Gesellschaft:
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