*************************************************************************** * * * ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER FOR THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY * * * * Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy * * in the Astronomische Gesellschaft * * * * Number 56, January 23, 2004 * * * * Edited by: Wolfgang R. Dick and Hilmar W. Duerbeck * * * *************************************************************************** Contents -------- 1. European Society for the History of Science 2. Abraham Pais Award for the History of Physics 3. Conference in Prague: Science in contact 4. Solar Eclipse Conference 5. Symposium in Budapest: The European Scientist 6. Job Announcement: Curatorial Post at Greenwich 7. Books in print Acknowledgements Imprint ........................................................................... Item 1 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... European Society for the History of Science ------------------------------------------- European societies or federations exist in a number of disciplines. Such bodies reflect a growing awareness of the benefits that international collaboration within Europe can bring. The benefits have been fully recognized within the International Council of Scientific Unions, and for some time now one of ICSU's priorities has been to further the coordination of scholarly and scientific activity on the European scale. Despite recent progress, some fields still lack a European organization. The history of science is one of these. A recommendation in favour of the establishment of a European society was advanced by the European Union in 1998, and now, five years on, that recommendation has been implemented. Following some months of discussion, the European Society for the History of Science was founded in October 2003 at a meeting in Paris attended by representatives from nine countries. At the founding General Assembly, held on 12 October 2003 in Sorbonne, in the premises of the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, IVe section, the following officers were elected: Robert Fox (Oxford) President Eberhard Knobloch (Berlin) Vice-president and President-elect Claude Debru (Paris) Vice-president Erwin Neuenschwander (Zurich) Treasurer Stephanie Dupouy (Paris) Secretary The society is planning a number of initiatives aimed at promoting contacts between scholars across Europe and advancing the interests of the history of science in education. Its website is being developed as a means of coordinating and publicizing activities on the European scale. Another core initiative will be the holding of regular European congresses. The first of these, organized in association with the Dutch national society Gewina and the University of Maastricht, will take place in Maastricht from 4 to 6 November 2004. The Membership of the society will be open both to individuals and to societies and other institutions with appropriate aims. Arrangements for the collection of the annual subscription, currently fixed at 20 euros for individual members, 100 euros for institutional members, and a minimum of 200 euros for supporting members, will be announced in the society's first newsletter, to be published shortly in electronic form. For further information about the society, please contact the secretary, Stephanie Dupouy, Departement de Philosophie, Ecole normale superieure, 45 rue d'Ulm, 75005 Paris, France (email: stephanie.dupouy@ens.fr). [Source: Stephanie Dupouy to Rete mailing list, 13 Jan 2004] ........................................................................... Item 2 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... Abraham Pais Award for the History of Physics --------------------------------------------- (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70, 22. Januar 2004, Item 2.) The American Physical Society and the American Institute of Physics have established a major new award, the Abraham Pais Award for the History of Physics, which will recognize outstanding scholarly achievements in the history of physics. A renowned theoretical particle physicist and historian of physics, Pais died in July 2000. Among historians, he is best known for his book Subtle is the Lord: The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein, which won the 1983 American Book Award in Science. The award will be given annually and consists of $5000, a certificate citing the recipient's contributions to the history of physics, and funds to travel to an APS meeting to receive the award and deliver an invited talk on the history of physics. The award is the first to be established specifically for the history of physics. The first selection committee will be chaired by Roger H. Stuewer (University of Minnesota) and other members are Allan D. Franklin (University of Colorado), Lillian Hoddeson (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Anne J. Kox (University of Amsterdam), and Spencer R. Weart (AIP). The first award will be conferred in 2005. Nominations are due by May 1, 2004, and should be sent to Stuewer. For further information, see the website of the APS Forum on History of Physics http://www.aps.org/units/fhp/pais/index.html . The Pais Award will usually be given to a single person but in any case to no more than three individuals and is open to scholars of all nationalities. For the past two years, an award establishment committee has been working on the concept and then the fundraising. The initial goal of $100,000 to establish an endowment has been reached. A major contribution came from John and Elizabeth Armstrong, who gave $30,000 outright and provided another $30,000 in matching funds to challenge other donors. Fundraising to cover travel expenses and to raise the amount of the award is continuing, according to Benjamin Bederson (New York University), who chairs the award establishment committee. Other members are Stephen G. Brush (University of Maryland), Gloria B. Lubkin (AIP), Harry Lustig (APS treasurer emeritus), Michael Riordan (Stanford University and University of California, Santa Cruz), Stuewer, and Weart. [Source: George Gale to HASTRO-L, the History of Astronomy Discussion Group, 11 Dec 2003, forwarding a message from H-NET, the List on the History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, 11 Dec 2003. Original message by Spencer Weart, 10 Dec 2003.] ........................................................................... Item 3 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... Conference in Prague: Science in contact ---------------------------------------- (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70, 22. Januar 2004, Item 3.) Science in contact at the beginning of the scientific revolution Prague, Czech Rep., June 23 - 27, 2004 First Announcement The conference will be hosted by National Technical Museum in Prague. The EU Commission has decided, in accordance with the EU programme for cultural support - Cultura 2000 - to grant a three-year network support to the institutions responsible for the care and maintenance of the legacy left by the astronomers and scientists who founded our modern world view. The scientists in question are Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. The network, which is co-ordinated by Landskrona Cultural Department (Sweden), shall be operative during 2002-2004, and will focus on interpreting and enlivening how the knowledge of our modern worldview evolved as a result of scientific co-operation within Europe. The top of the scientific part of the project should be a conference "Science in contact at the beginning of the scientific revolution". Location and meeting schedule Preliminary time schedule of the conference: June 23, 2004, 5-8 pm: Arrival of participants, registration (at the NTM) June 24, 2004 and June 25, 2004: Sessions June 26, 2004: Sights of historical and astronomical interest in Prague The current plan is to hold the scientific part of the conference from Thursday, June 24 morning till Friday evening for the sessions; for Saturday June 26 a trip/excursion is proposed. Accommodation will be soon proposed to the participants on the NTM web page. Alternatively, a wide choice of hotels around and inside Prague is available. Scientific programme and call for contribution The themes for the conference shall be as following: Ways of circulating scientific results of fundamental importance in Europe. Creation of research centres (Hven, Kassel, Prague, Florence, Cambridge etc). Travels of scientists and their ideas. Acceptance, rejection or proof of ideas and speculations of the period up to commencement of scientific research. Instruments used in this and their development and influence on scientific knowledge. Precision of observation and discovery and formulation of natural laws. Some of the leading figures of this stage: Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, Newton and people around them. Merits of free movement of scholars. Science and technology - ideas circulating very rapidly internationally. We plan on organizing sessions about above mentioned topic and panel discussion. Additional poster presentations will be accepted, on all the various topics concerning the matters. A special proceedings book will be published by the NTM. Working languages of the Conference will be English and German. The correspondence can be performed in both English and German. All forms, abstracts to presentations, texts to invited papers and extended theses should be presented in English or/and German. Deadlines: Submission of Abstracts 1st February, 2004 Notification of Acceptance 1st March, 2004 Issue of Preliminary Programme on the Web site 1st April, 2004 Submission of Full Paper during the conference Publication of Workshop Proceedings August 2004 Registration fee: A registration fee of EUR 50 will be asked. Participants are expected to finance their own travel and accommodation expenses. Local Organizing Committee: Jaroslav Folta, chairman (jaroslav.folta@ntm.cz) Antonin Svejda, scientific programme supervisor (antonin.svejda@ntm.cz) Jitka Zamrzlova, conference manager (jitka.zamrzlova@ntm.cz) Jana Nekvasilova, conference manager (jana.nekvasilova@ntm.cz) Please contact us if you wish to register and/or you are interested in our forthcoming announcements. Our web site will have regular updates on the Conference Programme. [Source: First Announcement distributed by the LOC, fowarded to us by Juergen Hamel] ........................................................................... Item 4 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... Solar Eclipse Conference ------------------------ (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 68, 10. Dezember 2003, Item 6.) The next international Solar Eclipse Conference 2004 (SEC2004) will be held on 2004 August 20-22 at Open University, Milton Keynes, England. The main objective of the conference is to bring together professionals and amateurs to discuss all aspects of solar eclipses. Two days of lectures will be given in each of the following disciplines: predictions, mathematics, solar physics, weather forecasting, eye safety, diameter measuring, edge and central, and ancient eclipse research. Both past and future solar eclipses will be discussed, as well as the 2004 transit of Venus. The Open University has its headquarters at Walton Hall, in Milton Keynes which is midway between London and Birmingham, and Oxford and Cambridge. It is necessary to make prior arrangements if you wish to attend SEC2004 or to make a presentation, lecture, or poster display. Please contact Patrick Poitevin (solareclipsewebpages@btopenworld.com). The programme will include also several lectures on historic topics: Leo Dubal (France): "Questioning Ancient Eclipse Records" Pierre Guillermier (France): "Eclipse Paintings in the XVIth and XVIIth centuries: The Pieter Paul Rubens' Christ on the Cross and the Antoine Caron's Dionysius the Areopagite" Peter Hingley (UK): "Picturing Eclipses, 1478 - 2000" Eli Maor (USA): "Jeremiah Horrocks and the 1639 Transit of Venus" Eckehard Schmidt (Germany): "Nuremberg - its history of solar eclipses" F. Richard Stephenson (UK): "Historical eclipses: then and now" Robert van Gent (The Netherlands): "Eclipse Cycles" More information is available at the conference's web site: http://solareclipsewebpages.users.btopenworld.com/SEC_files/SEC2004.html [Source: conference's web site, see above] ........................................................................... Item 5 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... Symposium in Budapest: The European Scientist --------------------------------------------- (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70, 22. Januar 2004, Item 1.) The European Scientist Symposium on the era and work of Franz Xaver von Zach (1754-1832) Budapest 15-17 September 2004 First Announcement Purpose This symposium celebrates the era and work of Franz Xaver von Zach on the 250th anniversary of his birth. The meeting will bring together international experts in the history of science to present papers on the following topics. Topics covered Biographical aspects Scientific periodicals Meetings of scientists Enlightenment, freemasonry and religious orders Interaction with politics The role of "managers of science" Gauss and the Hungarian science The evolution of star catalogues Minor planets and celestial mechanics Astrogeodetic instruments Local and global geodesy and navigation Civil and military cartography Geography and geophysics Dates Sept. 15 to Sept. 17, 2004. The symposium precedes the autumn meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft, held in Prague at Sept. 20-25, 2004. Venue The meeting will take place in the main building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, Hungary. Accomodation In medium category hotels, next to the building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, cost per night: 65 Euro in a single and 85 Euro in a double room (including breakfast). Participation Participation is open for everybody who is interested in this subject. Registration Interested participants are invited to register with the enclosed registration form. There is no registration fee. Accompanying persons are welcome. Proceedings We intend to publish proceedings of the symposium. Scientific Organizing Committee: Peter Brosche (Daun/Bonn, chairman) Jim Caplan (Marseille) Anita McConnell (London) Gudrun Wolfschmidt (Hamburg) Local Organizing Committee (Budapest): Bela Balazs Lajos G. Balazs (chairman) Laszlo Patkos Magda Vargha Endre Zsoldos REGISTRATION FORM The era and work of Franz Xaver von Zach Budapest 15-17 September Family name: First name: Postal address: Fax: E-mail address: Number of accompanying persons: I would like to present a paper Title Authors Intended duration of talk: Abstract: Accommodation: please indicate your choice: I prefer single occupancy I wish to share a double room with: Return to: Prof. L. G. Balazs, Konkoly Observatory, P. O. Box 67, H-1525 Budapest, Hungary. Fax: (36)(1)275-4668 e-mail: balazs@konkoly.hu ........................................................................... Item 6 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... Job Announcement: Curatorial Post at Greenwich ---------------------------------------------- (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 70, 22. Januar 2004, Item 5.) CURATOR - HISTORY OF TIMEKEEPING GBP 20,000 - GBP 30,000 + benefits * Greenwich Recognised throughout the world for its innovative and entrepreneurial approach, the National Maritime Museum aims to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich forms part of NMM and is the international home of time. We are looking for an exceptional individual to champion the study of the history of timekeeping and actively research our relevant collections within the broader disciplines of the history of science and maritime history. These are exciting times to be joining our team: we are about to embark on a GBP 15 million project: Time & Space which will include a state-of-the-art astronomy centre and new displays that explore mankind's quest to understand time and the universe. This new post will be central to these developments, as you will communicate the excitement and relevance of the history of timekeeping to a diverse range of people, from schoolchildren to academics. Encompassing research, education and web-based interpretation work, this expansive brief will see you work with the Senior Curator of Horology and the Exhibitions team to develop new galleries and displays, promote the collections to a wide audience and publish work within the academic context that interprets the significance of the collections. We are looking for an exceptional candidate with a proven track record within the history of science field who can place our scientific and technological collections into a broader historical and maritime history context. You will have a postgraduate qualification or experience in a relevant subject area, an active research profile and published work. We are not necessarily looking for an horologist, but you must have the ability to develop the necessary practical-based skills to analyse this material for research purposes. Above all, we are looking for a genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter and collections, together with excellent communication and team-working skills. Apply now by sending your CV and covering letter, quoting reference R/CHT, to: Human Resources, National Maritime Museum, Park Row, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF, or by email to recruitment@nmm.ac.uk We regret that we are unable to reply to every applicant. If you do not hear from us within three weeks, please assume you have not been shortlisted. Closing date for the receipt of applications: 2 February 2004. The Museum upholds equal opportunities for all staff and has a no smoking policy. For a full job description please visit our website www.nmm.ac.uk . [Source: Gloria Clifton to Rete Mailing List, 16 Jan 2004] ........................................................................... Item 7 ENHA No. 56, Jan. 23, 2004 ........................................................................... Books in print -------------- (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 58, 7. September 2001, Item 6. Originally from: "Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 18, Juli 2001, S. 6) The compilation lists books in print written by members of the Working Group for the History of Astronomy, published before 1992 and therefore not yet listed in the WG's newsletters. Additions are welcome. Bialas, Volker: Die Rudolphinischen Tafeln von Johannes Kepler. Mathematische und astronomische Grundlagen. [The Rudolphine Tables of Johannes Kepler. Mathematical and astronomical foundations. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1969. 137 p., 36 figs., 2 facs., ISBN 3-7696-2529-3, paperback 28.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 2. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 139) Bialas, Volker: Eine doppelte Iterationsrechnung von Johannes Kepler und ihre Programmierung zu seiner Berechnung der scheinbaren Planetenbahn. [A double iteration calculus by Johannes Kepler and its programming, concerning his calculation of the apparent orbit of a planet. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1970. 30 p., 9 figs., ISBN 3-7696-2533-1, paperback 7.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 3. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 143) Bialas, Volker: Die Berechnung der Jupiterbahn nach Kepler. [The calculation of Jupiter's orbit according to Kepler. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1970. 200 p., 15 figs. and facs., ISBN 3-7696-2538-2, paperback 26.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge, Jovialia; H. 4. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 148) Bialas, Volker; Papadimitriu, Elli: Materialien zu den Ephemeriden von Johannes Kepler. [Materials concerning the ephemerides of Johannes Kepler. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1980. 218 p., ISBN 3-7696-2549-8, paperback 58.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 7. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 159) Bialas, Volker: Erdgestalt, Kosmologie und Weltanschauung. Die Geschichte der Geodaesie als Teil der Kulturgeschichte der Menschheit. [The Earth's shape, cosmology, and world outlook. The history of geodesy as part of the cultural history of mankind. - In German]. Stuttgart: Verlag Konrad Wittwer, 1982. VI, 365 p., 73 figs., 17 tables, ISBN 3-87919-133-6, hardbound 46.94 DM (Vermessungswesen bei Konrad Wittwer; 9) Bialas, Volker: Die Kepler-Edition. Gegenwaertiger Stand und editorische Probleme. [The edition of Kepler's works. Actual status and editorial problems. - In German] Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1985. 11 p., ISBN 3-7696-4713-0, paperback 6.00 DM (Sitzungsber. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturwiss.; 1985/2) Bialas, Volker: Astronomie und Glaubensvorstellungen in der Megalithkultur. Zur Kritik der Archaeoastronomie. [Astronomy and concepts of faith in megalithic civilisation. On the critics of archaeoastronomy. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1988. 98 p., 27 figs., ISBN 3-7696-2556-0, paperback 50.00 DM (Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF 166) Hamel, Juergen: Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel. [In German]. Leipzig: Teubner. 1984. 98 p., 15 figs., ISBN 3-322-00632-8, paperback 14.80 DM (Biogr. hervorragender Naturwissenschaftler, Techniker und Mediziner; 67) Hamel, Juergen: Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel. [In German]. Leipzig: Teubner. 1988. 104 p., 18 figs., ISBN 3-322-00482-1, paperback 14.80 DM (Biogr. hervorragender Naturwissenschaftler, Techniker und Mediziner; 89) Herrmann, Dieter B.: Geschichte der modernen Astronomie. [History of modern astronomy. - In German]. Koeln: Aulis-Verlag Deubner, 1988. 208 p., 22 x 19,5 cm, ISBN 3-7614-1002-6, hardbound 19.80 DM Herrmann, Dieter B.: Kosmische Weiten. Kurze Geschichte der Entfernungsmessung im Weltall. [Cosmic distances. A short history of distance measurement in space. - In German]. 3rd revised and expanded edition. Leipzig: Barth, 1989. 94 p., 38 figs., 14 tables, 24,5 x cm, ISBN 3-335-00103-6, cloth 10.00 DM (Wiss. Schriften z. Astron.) List, Martha; Bialas, Volker: Die Coss von Jost Buergi in der Redaktion von Johannes Kepler. Ein Beitrag zur fruehen Algebra. [The Coss of Jost Buergi, as edited by Johannes Kepler. A contribution to early algebra. - In German]. Muenchen: Bayerische Akad. d. Wiss., 1973. 128 p., 2 facs. on glossy paper, ISBN 3-7696-2544-7, paperback 30.00 DM (Nova Kepleriana, Neue Folge; H. 5. - Abh. d. Bayer. Akad. d. Wiss. Math.-Naturw. NF; 154) ........................................................................... Acknowledgements ---------------- For directly sending us information we thank Peter Brosche and Juergen Hamel. ........................................................................... Imprint ------- Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy (ENHA) Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy in the Astronomische Gesellschaft Editors: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick and Dr. Hilmar W. Duerbeck 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. Archives: Previous issues of ENHA are to be found at http://www.astrohist.org/aa/enha/ . Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte / Working Group for the History of Astronomy: URL: http://www.astrohist.org/ 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, Vogelsang 35 A, D-14478 Potsdam, Germany, e-mail: wdick@astrohist.org Bank Acct. of the Astronomische Gesellschaft: Acct # 310 330 402, Volksbank Coesfeld-Duelmen (BLZ 401 631 23) Contributions from foreign countries: acct # 162 18-203, Postbank Hamburg, BLZ 200 100 20 Please sign with: "Fuer Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte" ***************************************************************************