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Electronic newsletter for the history of astronomy 31
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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 31, September 10, 1998 *
* *
* Edited by: Wolfgang R. Dick *
* *
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Contents
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1. Meeting of the Working Group for the History of Astronomy during the
International Conference of the Astronomische Gesellschaft -
Programme
2. Michael J. Crowe: Fourth Biennial History of Astronomy Workshop
3. Bart Fried: The Antique Telescope Society and its Journal
4. Emily Gillingham: Metascience - A review journal for history and
philosophy of science
5. Charles A. Wood: A new Web site: Exploring the Moon
6. New book on astrolabes
Imprint
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Item 1 ENHA No. 31, Sep. 10, 1998
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Meeting of the Working Group for the History of Astronomy during the
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International Conference of the Astronomische Gesellschaft
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Programme
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(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 33,
8. September 1998, Item 1, sligtly abridged. Partial translations by the
editor.)
Sunday, 13 September 1998
Informal gathering in the restaurant, "Da Claudia", Brueckenstrasse 14, in
Heidelberg, from around 7 pm, open end.
Monday, 14 September 1998
Place: Campus of Heidelberg University (Neuenheimer Feld 308), Hoersaal
[Lecture room] 2 in the Central Area of "Theoretikum", building 306
9:00 Welcome
9:10 Reinhold Bien (Heidelberg): A history of local astronomy
9:30 Andreas Haenel (Osnabrueck): Do megalithic graves have an astronomical
orientation? A European perspective
9:50 Harald Gropp (Heidelberg): Some remarks on the calendar of Coligny
10:10 Heiner Lichtenberg (Bonn): Zur Verknuepfung des Sonnen- und
Mondkalenders im Gregorianischen Kalender
10:30 Coffee break
11:00 Ari Belenkiy (Israel): Kepler's Ellipse and Jewish Astronomical
Tradition
11:20 Elvira Pfitzner (Chemnitz): Doerffelforschung - Moeglichkeiten und
Grenzen
11:40 Ulrich Bastian (Heidelberg): Bessel's Parallax of 61 Cygni Visualized
12:00 Lunch
14:00 Colin Humphreys (Cambridge, UK): The Star of Bethlehem, a Comet in 5
BC, and the Date of the Millenium
14:40 Manfred Schuermeyer (Dreieich): The Comet of Bethlehem and its year of
appearance
15:00 Wolfgang Czegka (Bruehl): Wilhelm Schickard, Isaac Habrecht and the
first empirical meteor height determination in 1623
15:20 Break
15:30 Wolfgang Kokott (Munich/Bonn): Variations of a Constant - On the
History of Precession
15:50 Gudrun Wolfschmidt (Hamburg): Max Wolf as a Pioneer of
Astrophotography
16:10 Wolfgang R. Dick (Potsdam): Encyclopedias of Astronomical Biographies
- Status and Prospects
16:30 Assembly of the members of the Working Group for the History of
Astronomy (guests are welcome)
Abstracts of the papers were published in "Astronomische Gesellschaft
Abstract Series" No. 14, Hamburg 1998, p. 75-81. These are available in
electronic form at the Astrophysics Data System (ADS). Links to the
abstracts of the papers listed above are to be found in
http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/aa/treffen1998-e.html . There are
also links to the complete programme of the conference, as well as to
documents about the history of astronomy in Heidelberg, to museums and
to general information about this city.
Other events
Monday, 14 September, to Friday, 18 September 1998
International Scientific Conference of the Astronomische Gesellschaft
The following poster paper (P 121) has been submitted:
Johann Dorschner (Jena): Max Wolf and the Thuringian Private Astronomer
Anton Thraen
Wednesday, 16 September 1998
Tour of the Landessternwarte (Observatory) Heidelberg-Koenigstuhl
At 3 pm you may visit the Landessternwarte on the Koenigstuhl hill.
Saturday, 19 September 1998
Programme for teachers
The programme includes also:
Heiner Lichtenberg (Bonn): Zeitrechnung im Gregorianischen Kalender - ein
Schulthema?
Please send all requests to the coordinator of the meeting:
Dr. Reinhold Bien, Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Moenchhofstr. 12-14,
D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany, Tel.: (06221) 405-120, Fax: (06221) 405-297,
e-mail: reinhold@ari.uni-heidelberg.de
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Item 2 ENHA No. 31, Sep. 10, 1998
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Fourth Biennial History of Astronomy Workshop
---------------------------------------------
By Michael J. Crowe, Notre Dame, IN
The Fourth Biennial History of Astronomy Workshop will be held July 1-4,
1999 at the University of Notre Dame. Co-Program Chairs are Mike Crowe and
Steve Dick. Matt Dowd will serve as local arrangements chair. Persons
having suggestions or proposals should write as soon as possible to either
Steven J. Dick
U.S. Naval Observatory
3450 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20392-5420, USA
E-mail: dick@ariel.usno.navy.mil
tel.: 202-762-1438
or to
Michael J. Crowe
Program of Liberal Studies
Univ. of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
E-mail: Crowe.1@nd.edu
tel.: 219-631-6212.
Registration information can be obtained from
Astronomy
Center for Continuing Education
Univ. of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
E-mail: cce.cce.1@nd.edu
Local Arrangements information can be secured from
Matthew F. Dowd
Graduate Program in History and Philosophy of Science
Univ. of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
E-mail: Matthew.F.Dowd.11@nd.edu
tel.: 219-287-7226
The workshop is sponsored by the History and Philosophy of Science Graduate
Program of the University of Notre Dame, the History of Astronomy Special
Interest Group of the History of Science Society, and the Historical
Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical Society.
Regarding transportation, flights come to the South Bend Airport from a
number of major cities. Persons arriving via Chicago can take the United
Limo Bus, which runs from the United Terminal at O'Hare Airport directly to
the Notre Dame campus. Round-trip fare is $52. For a schedule and
reservations, call United Limo at (800)833-5555. For those driving, ample
parking is available. A campus map and parking information will be sent in
the CCE information packet.
The conference will include a book exhibit and display tables.
Participants are welcome to bring materials to display. Please contact
Matt Dowd with regard to how much space will be needed.
The sixty-five historians of astronomy who attended the Third Biennial
History of Astronomy Workshop, held at Notre Dame in June, 1997, praised
the lively and informed sessions, the comfortable and informal atmosphere,
and the reasonable room rates. Further information will be forthcoming.
For the present, please mark your calendar and pass the word!
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Item 3 ENHA No. 31, Sep. 10, 1998
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The Antique Telescope Society and its Journal
---------------------------------------------
By Bart Fried, Plymouth Meeting, PA
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 33,
8. September 1998, Item 3.)
The Antique Telescope Society is an international non-profit society
whose purpose is to unite colleagues interested in antique astronomical
telescopes, binoculars, instruments, books, atlases, and related items.
It's further purpose is to promote the membership's interests in
astronomical history and discovery, the history of optics, and the
preservation and use of these instruments through stewardship and
education. The principal activities of the society are publishing a
regular journal, organizing meetings, providing assistance with the
restoration of instruments, hosting shows and displays, preserving
historical data and guiding collectors.
The Journal of the Antique Telescope Society is an 18-24 page, 21.5 cm x
28 cm soft-covered volume printed on glossy paper and illustrated with
black and white photographs, drawings and diagrams, etc. Articles have
been of a very high caliber, including much new or re-discovered
information about the history of telescope making. Submissions are
peer-reviewed for accuracy and letters and requests for information are
published.
Yearly conventions have been at such interesting and prestigious places
as the Herschel Society/Bath, England; U.S. Naval Observatory; Yerkes
Observatory; Lick Observatory; Chabot Observatory; Ricard Observatory;
Mt. Wilson Observatory; Sproul Observatory and Palomar Observatory.
Membership in the society is currently $40.00 US for each four Journal
issues, published 3-4 times per year.
For more information, visit the society's Web site:
http://www1.tecs.com/oldscope/
(Please note that the site will soon be updated, and the address
might change.)
To join the ATS or get further information, please contact:
Dr. Walter Breyer, ATS Secretary
1275 Poplar Grove Road
Cumming, GA 30041
USA
e-mail: whbreyer@mindspring.com
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Item 4 ENHA No. 31, Sep. 10, 1998
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Metascience - A review journal for history and philosophy of science
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By Emily Gillingham, Oxford
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 33,
8. September 1998, Item 4.)
Metascience is a review journal which publishes high quality, comprehensive
reviews of books in history and philosophy of science, science and
technology studies and related fields. Metascience specialises in
innovative styles of reviewing, including standard reviews, essay reviews,
CD-Rom reviews, non-anglophone reviews, discipline survey reviews and
round-table or review symposia in which up to four reviewers provide
independent essay reviews of one book. Metascience is non-specialist as
all reviews are accessible to a wide cross-section of the HPS/STS
community.
Free Sample Copy Available
If you would like to review a sample copy of the journal prior to
subscribing, please reply to egilling@blackwellpublishers.co.uk with
'METASCIENCE-SAMPLE COPY REQUEST' in the subject line and your full name,
postal address, and the following information in the message, i.e. whether
you are planning to:
a) Submit a review to the journal.
b) Recommend your library to subscribe. If so, I would be grateful for
the name of the librarian and institution...
c) Subscribe to the journal yourself.
Special Offer - Electronic Access is included in your institutional
subscription to the print edition.
Special Discounts available for Members of the following societies:
AAHPSSS, APA, HSS, BSHS, PSA, AHSA, ISHPSSB. See below for more details.
Contents of Volume 7, Issue 2, July 1998:
Review Symposium:
Brute Science: Dilemmas of Animal Experimentation, by Hugh LaFollette
and Niall Shanks
Reviewed by Jane Azevedo, John Forge, Alan MacKay-Sim, Merry Maisel,
Don Howard
Survey Reviews:
Science Communication: A Growth Area in Science and Technology Studies
By Rosaleen Love
Marketing the Scientific Revolution-New Stories for Beginners
By John A. Schuster
Literature Survey: Spain and the Dawn of Modern Science
By Beatriz Helena Domingues
Essay Review:
Steve Fuller, Science, Reviewed by David Hess
CD-ROM Review:
Daniel Dennett, Artificial Life: the Tufts Symposium, Reviewed by Terry
Dartnall
Reviews include:
Steven J. Dicks, The Biological Universe: The Twentieth Century
Extraterrestrial Life Debate and the Limits of Science
Reviewed by Kim Sterelny
H. Tristram Engelhardt Jr, The Foundations of Bioethics
Reviewed by John Forge
Steven Epstein, Impure Science: AIDS, Activism and the Politics of
Knowledge
Reviewed by Ivan Crozier
Karen Newman, Fetal Positions: Individualism, Science, Visuality
Reviewed by Yvonne Luxford
Paul Churchland, The Engine of Reason, the Seat of the Soul
Reviewed by Richard McDonough
Bettyann Holtzmann Kevles, Naked to the Bone: Medical Imaging in the
Twentieth Century
Reviewed by Randall Albury
Edited by John Forge
ISSN: 0815-0796, 3 issues a year, Volume 7, 1998
Institutional Subscription Rates: $ 123.00 (N America), GBP 75.00
(UK/Europe), A$ 99.00 (Australia/New Zealand), GBP 75.00 (Rest of World)
Personal Subscription Rates: $ 46.00 (N America), GBP 29.00 (UK/Europe),
A$ 50.00 (Australia/New Zealand), GBP 29.00 (Rest of World)
AAHPSSS Members: A$ 45.00
APA, HSS, BSHS, PSA, AHSA, ISHPSSB Members: $40.00 (N America),
GBP 25.00 (Rest of World)
More information is available at the following Web site:
http://www.sct.gu.edu.au/~sctforge/index.html
Author's address:
Emily Gillingham
Blackwell Publishers
108 Cowley Road
Oxford, OX4 1JF
UK
Email: egilling@blackwellpublishers.co.uk
http://www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk
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Item 5 ENHA No. 31, Sep. 10, 1998
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A new Web site: Exploring the Moon
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By Charles A. Wood, Grand Forks, ND
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 33,
8. September 1998, Item 5.)
In ENHA No. 19 (April 9, 1997, Item 4) I mentioned that I was developing a
web site about the Moon and the history of its explorations. The site,
Exploring the Moon, is now available at:
http://www.space.edu/moon
One goal is documentation of all significant studies of the Moon,
especially the classical era from Gilbert, Harriot and Galileo through
Apollo. Currently more than 100 books, maps and planetary missions are
briefly described - some with photos and text excerpts.
A second goal is compilation of a virtual photographic atlas of the Moon.
Presently there are about 25 different regions depicted, both from high
quality amateur and professional photos.
The third major section is an online version of the Lunar & Planetary Lab
(Tucson) Catalog of Lunar Craters, which I lead nearly 30 years ago. This
unpublished catalog of lunar crater positions, diameters and depths
should be online in a few weeks.
Necessarily, this web site is incomplete. I strongly encourage students
of the Moon to send me corrections, comments and additions - any of which
can be entered on the site along with the name of the contributor.
Author's address:
Charles A. Wood Tel: 701-777-3167
Space Studies FAX: 701-777-3711
Univ. of North Dakota VolcanoWorld: volcano.und.edu
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9008 Space Studies: www.space.edu
E-mail: cwood@badlands.nodak.edu
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Item 6 ENHA No. 31, Sep. 10, 1998
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New book on astrolabes
----------------------
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 33,
8. September 1998, Item 6.)
The History of Astronomy Department of the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy
Museum, Chicago, is pleased to announce the publication of Western
Astrolabes by Roderick and Marjorie Webster. This book is the inaugural
volume of our catalogue project documenting the Adler's collection of
historic scientific instruments and rare books.
The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum is home to one of the world's
great collections of astrolabes. In this volume Marjorie and the late
Roderick Webster, Adler Curators Emeriti, have carefully documented 47
astrolabes, astrolabe-quadrants, and mariner's astrolabes. The book is
lavishly illustrated with photographs showing the front, the back, and
additional details (such as the maker's signature) of each instrument.
Introductory essays by the Websters and former Adler curator Sara
Schechner Genuth explain the use of the astrolabe and its role in cultural
and social history.
For more information, to read a sample entry, or to obtain an order form,
please go to the web site http://astro.uchicago.edu/adler/historybooks/.
You may also request a brochure/order form to be sent via regular mail by
contacting us at the Email address historybooks@adlernet.org.
Future volumes currently underway include: Eastern Astrolabes, Sundials (2
volumes), Star Charts (2 volumes), and Optical Instruments. Other volumes
will include: Clocks and Watches, Globes and Armillary Spheres,
Navigational Instruments, and more.
(Contributed by Bruce Stephenson, Chicago, IL)
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Imprint
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Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy (ENHA)
Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in the
Astronomische Gesellschaft
Editor: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick <wdi@potsdam.ifag.de>
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.
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.: +49(0)6592 2150, Fax: +49(0)6592 985140
Secretary: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick, Bundesamt fuer Kartographie und
Geodaesie, Aussenstelle Potsdam, Postfach 60 08 08, D-14408 Potsdam,
Germany, Tel.: +49(0)331 316 618, E-mail: wdi@potsdam.ifag.de
Bank Acct. of the Working Group of the Astronomische Gesellschaft:
Acct # 333 410 41, Sparkasse Bochum (BLZ 430 500 01)
Contributions from foreign countries: acct # 162 18-203, Postgiroamt
Hamburg, BLZ 200 400 20
Please sign with: "Fuer Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte"
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