*************************************************************************** * * * 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 * * * *************************************************************************** Contents -------- 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 ........................................................................... 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/ ........................................................................... 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: . Phone: (978) 542-7134. Website: www.nathanielbowditch.org [Source: Press Release distributed through the Rete discussion group.] ........................................................................... 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 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" ***************************************************************************