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Electronic newsletter for the history of astronomy 48
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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 48, December 17, 2001 *
* *
* Edited by: Wolfgang R. Dick *
* *
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Contents
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1. Chris Sterken: The Journal of Astronomical Data
2. Current Exhibitions
3. Conference Announcement: Ethnoastronomy in the West African Sub-Region
4. Conference Announcement:
Figures de l'antinewtonianisme/Faces of anti-Newtonianism, 1672-1832
5. Call for Papers:
Nathaniel Bowditch and the Art and Science of Navigation, 1802-2002
6. Conferences 2002-2004
Acknowledgements
Imprint
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Item 1 ENHA No. 48, Dec. 17, 2001
...........................................................................
The Journal of Astronomical Data
--------------------------------
By Chris Sterken, Brussels
(From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 58,
7. September 2001, Item 7.)
The Journal of Astronomical Data (JAD) is a machine-readable scientific
journal that was founded in 1995 and is edited by Chris Sterken and Hilmar
Duerbeck. JAD aims at complementing existing data banks, data archives and
supplement series of other journals by publishing observational data on
CD-ROM or DVD.
JAD publishes observational datasets, data from theoretical research,
reduction software and computer code, complete descriptions and designs of
new instruments catalogues, Ph.D. theses, conference proceedings, etc.
The journal also welcomes historical data, e.g. collections covering very
long time baselines, descriptions of historical instruments and
reproductions of ancient catalogues and maps.
Data already permanently available in machine-readable form at established
data banks or internet are not considered for publication in the journal.
All papers are submitted to one or two referees whose identity will be
made known to the author(s). All published material is copyright protected
and all rights are reserved, unless stated otherwise. The Publisher
adopted the policy that authors retain their copyright (or, in other
cases, the institute under which jurisdiction the author has collected the
data). This principle leaves full freedom for authors to distribute their
work in other ways without needing consent from a third party.
JAD appears annually - that is, one volume per year - on one or more
physical data carriers (CD-ROM or DVD). The descriptive part of the
published manuscripts is reprinted on paper in the form of Proceedings
volumes.
The annual subscription fee (50 Euro) covers postage and handling of the
CDs and Proceedings.
Editors: Chris Sterken (csterken@vub.ac.be) and Hilmar Duerbeck
(hilmar@uni-muenster.de)
Publisher: C. Sterken, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050
Brussel, Belgium; tel. 00 32 26293469 /3470, fax 00 32 26293174
For more information, see http://www.vub.ac.be/STER/JAD/jad.htm
Ed. note: Volume 6 (2000) contains also two books devoted to the history
of astronomy and a book review: K. B. Staubermann: Controlling Vision -
The Photometry of Karl Friedrich Zoellner (PhD Thesis); C. Sterken, K. B.
Staubermann (eds.): Karl Friedrich Zoellner and the historical dimension
of astronomical photometry. A collection of papers on the History of
Photometry. Book Review: Treasure-Hunting in Astronomical Plate Archives
(Acta Historica Astronomiae Vol. 6).
...........................................................................
Item 2 ENHA No. 48, Dec. 17, 2001
...........................................................................
Current Exhibitions
-------------------
From 22 November to 21 December 2001, the Royal Library of Belgium
(Brussels) displays a small exposition entitled "From the Roman to the
16th Century Surveyor" (Van de Romeinse tot de 16de-eeuwse landmeters/
Des agrimensores romains aux arpenteurs du XVIe siecle). Although mainly
concerned with books there are also astrolabes and reconstructions of
Roman measuring instruments. Admission free.
Koninklijke Bibliotheek van Belgie/Bibliotheque royale de Belgique,
Nassaukapel/Chapelle de Nassau, phone: 02/519.53.55
Further information:
http://www.kbr.be/info/act/expo/geometre/geometre_nl.html
The Israel Museum in Jerusalem has been staging an exhibition entitled
"Written in the Stars - Art and Symbolism of the Zodiac" from 20 March
to 31 December 2001. A large number of exhibits illustrated the role of
the astrological signs in art painting and sculpture, literature and
religion, but also in connection with everyday artefacts. Celestial
globes from the 17th and 18th centuries (on loan from Vienna) complete
the lively exhibition with its very useful English-language
inscriptions. The catalogue, also in English, is another addition to the
museum's list of internationally known publications.
Catalogue: Written in the Stars. Art and Symbolism of the Zodiac.
Catalogue No. 452. 144 pp., 85 illustrations. ISBN 965-278-273-4. Soft
cover $27.50 + shipping. Can be ordered online from:
http://www.imj.org.il/shop/new.html
The Israel Museum, POB 71117, Jerusalem 91710, Israel,
Tel: 972-2-6708811, Fax: 972-2-5631833. URL: http://www.imj.org.il/
Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and holidays: 10 am - 4 pm;
Tuesday: 4 - 9 pm; Thurs: 10 am - 9 pm; Friday and holiday eves: 10 am -
2 pm; Sunday: closed.
A web version of the exhibition can be seen at:
http://www.imj.org.il/zodiac/index-e.html
[Source: The International Coronelli Society for the Study of Globes,
News 2001, p. 19; Web site]
An exhibition on the life and work of Werner Heisenberg is currently on
display in Leipzig and Munich. The exhibition is supposed to provide the
visitor a condensed impression of life and work of Werner Heisenberg, the
great scientist and personage. The following historical documents have been
used: photos of Heisenberg, his friends, family and associates from all
periods; testimonies and letters; excerpts from newspapers, manuscripts and
printed papers, declarations and public addresses. The exhibition has been
planned and worked out by the University Archive of Leipzig University
(Gerald Wiemers) and the Max-Planck-Institut fuer Physik in Munich (Helmut
Rechenberg). It continues as a touring exhibition in Germany in 2002.
3 December 2001 to 15 January 2002:
Physikalisches Institut, Linnestrasse 5, Leipzig, Germany
Open daily from 10.00 to 17.00, except on sundays and public holidays
5 December 2001 to 7 January 2002:
Max-Planck-Haus, Hofgartenstrasse 8, 80539 Munich, Germany
Open daily from 10.00 to 17.00, except on sundays and public holidays
More information:
http://www.heisenberg-centennial.de/
http://www.uni-leipzig.de/archiv/heisenberg/
There is a small exhibition from 20 November 2001 to February 2002 at the
Musee des Arts et Metiers in Paris, "Time in the temples of ancient Egypt",
centered upon a recently acquired statuette, formerly in the Time Museum,
Rockford.
Musee des Arts et Metiers, 60, rue Reaumur, 75003 Paris, France
URL: http://www.cnam.fr/museum/
[Source: Minutes of the 20th Plenary Session of the Scientific Instrument
Commission, http://www.sic.iuhps.org/conf2001/se_mins.htm]
An exhibition on the life and work of the physician and astronomer Wilhelm
Olbers (1758-1840) ("Neue Welten: Wilhelm Olbers und die
Naturwissenschaften um 1800") has been prepared by the Institute for the
History of Science at Hamburg University and the Braunschweigisches
Landesmuseum. The exhibition has been on display at the Staats- und
Universitaetsbibliothek Hamburg from 28 August until 13 October 2001 and is
currently being shown at the Braunschweigisches Landesmuseum (from 17
November 2001 until 17 February 2002).
Braunschweigisches Landesmuseum, Burgplatz 1, 38100 Braunschweig,
Germany; Phone: (0531) 484-2602, Fax: 484-2607,
e-mail: blm@blm.bs.shuttle.de
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 am - 5 pm, Thursday 10 am - 8 pm
For more detailed information see
http://www.math.uni-hamburg.de/math/ign/events/olbers.htm
"Footprints of the lion: Isaac Newton at work" is the title of an
exhibition at the Cambridge University Library from 9 October 2001 to 23
March 2002. It is the first to illustrate the complete range of Newton's
intellectual activities in physics, astronomy, mathematics, natural
philosophy, theology, and alchemy. It is also the first time that some of
Newton's earliest letters and papers, preserved in the Macclesfield
Collection and recently purchased by the University Library, have been
placed on public display.
Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DR, England,
Phone: 01223 333000, Fax: 01223 333160, e-mail: exhibitions@lib.cam.ac.uk,
URL: http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 09.00-18.00, Friday 09.00-16.30
Admission free.
"Exploring Space" is the title of a special exhibitions in two museums in
Hampshire, England. Plenty of models and hands-on experiments as well as
historic astronomic instruments are on display.
15 September 2001 - 5 January 2002:
Westbury Manor Museum, West Street, Fareham, Hampshire, UK,
phone: (01329) 824895
Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
Admission is free.
19 January to 27 April 2002:
Eastleigh Museum, 25 High Street, Eastleigh, Hampshire UK,
phone: (02380) 643026
Opening times: Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
Admission is free.
More information: http://www.hants.gov.uk/museum/exhibitions/space.html
On October 10, 2001, Philosophical Hall (American Philosophical Society,
Philadelphia, PA) launched its first ongoing exhibition program in 190
years with the opening of the exhibition "From the Laboratory to the
Parlor: Scientific Instruments in Philadelphia, 1750-1875." On view until
31 March 2003, this exhibition draws on the Society's fine arts and objects
collections along with period books and archival materials from the
library. Objects include surveying instruments used to draw the Mason-Dixon
Line.
American Philosophical Society, 104 South Fifth Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3385, USA, phone (215) 440-3400
URL: http://www.amphilsoc.org/exhibitions/
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Item 3 ENHA No. 48, Dec. 17, 2001
...........................................................................
Conference Announcement:
------------------------
Ethnoastronomy in the West African Sub-Region
---------------------------------------------
The Centre for Advanced Humanities and Social Research,
Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Presents an International Conference on
ETHNO-ASTRONOMY IN THE WEST AFRICAN SUB-REGION
Date: 2002 May 8 - 11
Venue: University of Nigeria, Nsukka
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Organising Committee of the International Conference on Ethno-Astronomy
in West African Sub-region (Africa_ethnoastro 2002) invites you to
participate at the Conference.
The aims of the Conference include the following:
* To unearth the body of traditional knowledge of astronomy by peoples of
the West African sub-region.
* To re-interprete this body of knowledge in the light of modern/western
astronomy.
* To understand the ways and degrees through which this knowledge and
beliefs shaped the lived realities of the people of this region.
* Sub-Themes:
- Theoretical and Methodological Issues in the study of Ethno-Astronomy
- Cosmogonies and Creation Myths
- Indigenous Lore of Celestial Bodies
- Ethno-Astronomy and indigenous calendars, cycles, seasons, and
festivals.
- Cultural Representations of Ethno-Astronomy
- Comparative Studies on Ethno-Astronomy
- Ethno-Astronomy and the Environment
Registration/Participation fee: US $100.00.
Payment for local participants shall be made in cash or certified bank
draft payable to:
Damian Opata
Director,
Centre for Advanced Humanities & Social Research,
Faculty of Arts,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Foreign participants should pay on arrival.
CALL FOR PAPERS
Intending participants are invited to submit titles and abstracts of papers
(preferably by e-mail), which must be in English and not more than 200
words. Choice of presentation (oral or poster) should be indicated. The
abstract should bear the title of the work, name(s) (surname first) and
address(es) of the author(s). The name of the presenter for a jointly
authored abstract should be underlined. Acceptance for presentation shall
be based on the content, relevance to the theme of the conference and time
of receipt. Deadline for submission shall be December 22, 2001.
Download the plain text Registration Form from the conference's web site
(see below), complete it and e-mail to:
Johnson Urama
Secretary, LOC Africa_ethnoastro 2002
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
e-mail: johnson@hartrao.ac.za or johnsonurama@yahoo.com
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
First Announcement - 2001 Aug. 15
Deadline for submission of abstracts - 2001 Dec. 22
Second announcement - 2002 Mar. 05
Submission of full paper - 2002 May 08
Publishing of the Proceedings - 2003 Feb.
Sponsorship
Depending on the availability of funds, there could be partial sponsorship
of some participants. All those needing sponsorship are requested to e-mail
the organiser not later than the end of October, 2001.
More information: www.hartrao.ac.za/conferences/ethno2002/ethno2002.html
[Source: Web site]
...........................................................................
Item 4 ENHA No. 48, Dec. 17, 2001
...........................................................................
Conference Announcement:
------------------------
Figures de l'antinewtonianisme/Faces of anti-Newtonianism, 1672-1832
--------------------------------------------------------------------
24-25 May 2002
Center for History and Philosophy of Science, Department of Philosophy,
University of Paris-X (Nanterre), France
CALL FOR PAPERS: Historians have often regarded the opposition encountered
by Newtonianism during its triumphal progress in the 18th and 19th
centuries as little more than conservative reaction or temporary
misunderstanding. Yet from Leibniz and Berkeley to Goethe and the
Naturphilosophen, powerful critics manifested profound dissatisfaction with
both the scientific content and the philosophical foundations of
Newtonianism. The aim of the colloquium is to engage in a critical
reexamination of anti-Newtonianism by exploring its diverse origins, the
content of its arguments and practices, and its scientific and
philosophical consequences. The colloquium will be organized around four
major themes (subthemes listed are indicative, not exhaustive):
1. The principals of Newtonian mechanics. Cartesian reactions to the
publication of the Principia Mathematica; critiques of Leibniz, Huygens,
Fontenelle, and others of central Newtonian concepts (attraction, force,
relative and absolute motion, space and time.)
2. Theories of matter. Reception of and resistance to the research program
of the Queries in Newton's Opticks; the encounter of Newtonianism with
established research traditions in chemistry.
3. Hypothesis and experiment. The 18th century epistemological debate
regarding the legitimacy of the experimental method and inductive
generalization, the proscription of hypotheses, the relation of mathematics
to experience, and the validity of the method of fluxions; competing forms
of experimental practice in the work of Rizetti, Mariotte, Goethe, and
others.
4. Scientific knowledge and human culture. The evolving (post-Principia)
image of the cultural role of natural science; philosophical (Berkeley) and
poetical (Swift, Coleridge, Blake, Goethe) critiques of the Newtonian
conception of nature; theological objections to Newtonianism.
To propose a paper (30 minutes, either in French or English), please send a
short abstract and a curriculum vitae to either:
Philippe Hamou
Universite de Paris X - Nanterre, Departement de Philosophie
200, avenue de la Republique, 92001 Nanterre, France
tel/fax : (+33)-1-40-97-75-17 or (+33)-1-42-23-38-32
e-mail: PhilippeHamou@aol.com
Neil Ribe
Institut de Physique du Globe
4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Parix cedex 05, France
tel (+33)-1-44-27-24-79
fax (+33)-1-44-27-24-81
e-mail: ribe@ipgp.jussieu.fr
[Text provided by Neil Ribe.]
...........................................................................
Item 5 ENHA No. 48, Dec. 17, 2001
...........................................................................
Call for Papers:
----------------
Nathaniel Bowditch and the Art and Science of Navigation, 1802-2002
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Salem State College, 8-10 November 2002
The Bowditch Institute of Salem will celebrate the bicentennial of
Nathaniel Bowditch's "The New American Practical Navigator" with a
conference on the topic, "Nathaniel Bowditch: The Art and Science of
Navigation, 1802-2002" to be held at Salem State College in Salem,
Massachusetts, November 8-10, 2002. The conference will use Bowditch as
a touchstone for exploring the state of the maritime sciences and
commerce of his age, as well as the legacy of his contributions into the
21st century.
Befitting the broad range of Bowditch's activities - five commercial
voyages to the East, advancement of celestial navigation and maritime
cartography, contributions to the development of insurance and civic
institutions - we welcome papers and panel proposals that address a
broad range of aspects of the topic, historical or current, in both the
humanities and sciences. Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged,
and the Bowditch Institute warmly invites participation by scholars,
teachers, and museum and historic site professionals to join us in
exploring the interconnections between maritime history, science, and
commerce in the Early Republic, as well as Bowditch's legacy in these
areas today.
The conference will take place in historic Salem seaport, and will
feature venues at the home of Nathaniel Bowditch (under restoration),
the Peabody Essex Museum, the Salem Athaneum, the Salem Maritime
National Historic Site, and Salem State College. Attendant activities
will include museum and historic site visits, including tours of the
replica 1797 merchant vessel "Friendship".
Proposals of not more than 250 words and a one-page c.v. must be
received by March 31, 2002. Send to: Dr. Dane Morrison, Chair,
Department of History, Salem State College, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem,
MA 01970, USA. E-mail: <dane.morrison@salemstate.edu>.
Phone: (978) 542-7134. Website: www.nathanielbowditch.org
[Source: Press Release distributed through the Rete discussion group.]
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Item 6 ENHA No. 48, Dec. 17, 2001
...........................................................................
Conferences 2002-2004
---------------------
Further conferences in the years 2002 and 2003 were reported in previous
issues of ENHA. For a complete list of all conferences announced see the
following URL:
http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/hist_astr/ha_meet.html
January 6-10, 2002, Washington, DC, USA
199th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Session 1. HAD I: New Views of Historical Research in the 21st Century
Session 15. HAD IV: New Views of Historical Topics
Session 31. HAD II: The Development of American Astrophysics: Ideas,
Instruments, Observatories and Astronomers
Session 40. HAD III: Some Controversies in the History of Astronomy
Registration: AAS 199th Meeting, American Astronomical Society, 2000
Florida Ave., NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20009-1231, USA, Tel:
202-328-2010, FAX: 202-234-7850, E-mail: reg-help@aas.org
URL: http://www.aas.org/meetings/aas199/program/
January 18, 2002
Colloquium on the history of astronomy at Kuffner Observatory
Contacts: Peter Habison, Kuffner-Sternwarte, Johann Staud-Strasse 10,
1160 Wien, Austria, Phone: +43 1 9148130, Fax: +43 1 9148130/31
e-mail: phabison@kuffner.ac.at
May 30 - June 2, Nuremberg, Germany
Annual Meeting of the Sundial Working Group [Arbeitskreises Sonnenuhren] in
the German Chronometric Society [Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Chronometrie]
Contacts: Ludwig Engelhardt, Hohenzollernstr. 38, 90475 Nuernberg, Germany,
Phone (0911) 837445, Fax (0911) 9837579, e-mail: nbg@planet-interkom.de
September 9-14, 2002, Athens, Greece
XXI Scientific Instrument Symposium
Contacts: Eftymios Nicolaidis (e-mail: efnicol@eie.gr) and Giorgi
Vlahakis (e-mail: gvlahakis@eie.gr), National Helenic Research
Foundation, Vassileos Constantinou 48, 11635 Athens, Greece.
URLs: http://www.sic.iuhps.org/conf2002/
http://www.weblab.gr/hasi/sic2002/
September 23-25, Nuremberg, Germany
X Symposium of the International Coronelli Society for the Study of Globes
Contacts: International Coronelli Society,
c/o Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Josefsplatz 1, 1015 Vienna,
Austria, Fax: +43-1-53410319, e-mail: vincenzo@coronelli.org
September 23-28, 2002, Berlin, Germany
Scientific Meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft,
with Colloquium on the History of Astronomy
(probably on 27 and 28 September)
Details will be announced later.
June 19-22, 2003, Notre Dame, IN, USA
Sixth Biennial History of Astronomy Workshop
Contacts: Matthew F. Dowd, Univ. of Notre Dame, Hist. & Phil. of
Science, 346 O'Shaughnessy Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA,
e-mail: Matthew.F.Dowd.11@nd.edu
July 14-26, 2003, Sydney, Australia
IAU General Assembly
Several history of astronomy sessions are planned, such as Working Group
Meetings, Business Meetings, Science Meetings, a joint C41/C46 session
on the history of astronomy education activities, and possibly a Joint
Discussion. Details will be announced later.
Contacts: Dr. Wayne Orchiston, Australia, e-mail: wo@aaoepp.aao.gov.au
September 30 - October 4, 2003, Newport News, Virginia, USA
XXII Scientific Instrument Symposium
Details will be announced later.
September 2004, Dresden, Germany
XXIII Scientific Instrument Symposium
Details will be announced later.
...........................................................................
Acknowledgements
----------------
For information we thank the author, Chris Sterken, and in addition:
Ludwig Engelhardt, Peter Habison, Guenther Oestmann, Wayne Orchiston, Neil
Ribe, Cambridge University Library, Internationale Coronelli-Gesellschaft.
...........................................................................
Imprint
-------
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/astoria.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, Otterkiez 14, D-14478 Potsdam,
Germany, 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 200 100 20
Please sign with: "Fuer Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte"
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