*************************************************************************** * * * ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER FOR THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY * * * * Published by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy * * in the Astronomische Gesellschaft * * * * Number 25, January 28, 1998 * * * * Edited by: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick * * * *************************************************************************** Contents -------- 1. Editor's note 2. Journal for the History of Astronomy 3. Announcement of a New Journal: Culture and Cosmos 4. XVII International Scientific Instrument Symposium 5. Conferences 1998/99 Acknowledgements Imprint ........................................................................... Item 1 ENHA No. 25, January 28, 1998 ........................................................................... Editor's note ------------- No. 25 of the Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy (ENHA) will be the first one being not a complete translation of Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte (EMA). From now on ENHA will appear independently, but will contain selected contributions from EMA translated from German into English. All contributions which were submitted in English will appear in both newsletters, but not necessarily first in EMA as it was the case up to No. 24. When a contribution appeared first in the other newsletter this will be indicated. The advantage will be that both newsletters may contain rapid information without waiting for a complete translation of the previous issue of EMA. Donald Bellunduno has agreed to continue doing the translations. However, any additional help in translating single contributions would be much appreciated. In each case the translator will be indicated. Please contact me if you would like to help. W.R.D. ........................................................................... Item 2 ENHA No. 25, January 28, 1998 ........................................................................... Journal for the History of Astronomy ------------------------------------ (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 25, 16. Januar 1998, Item 2) Journal for the History of Astronomy was founded in 1970 and is now in its twenty-ninth year. Originally published every six months, it now appears quarterly, together with an annual supplement devoted to archaeoastronomy. Each issue consists of 96 pages, and is printed at Cambridge University Press on paper suitable for high-quality reproduction of artwork. To private subscribers purchasing copies direct for their personal use, the annual subscription is GBP 35 ($ 70 in the Americas and Japan) for the five issues, GBP 29 ($ 58) for the quarterly issues without the supplement. Articles for publication should be sent to the Editor, Dr Michael Hoskin, Churchill College, Cambridge CB3 0DS, UK (e-mail: MAH15@CUS.CAM.AC.UK); books for review to Professor Owen Gingerich, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA; and subscriptions to Science History Publications Ltd, 16 Rutherford Road, Cambridge CB2 2HH, UK (phone and fax: +44 1223 565532; e-mail: shpltd@aol.com). Further information can be obtained from http://members.aol.com/shpltd/index-page3.html. A Table of Contents for the latest issues can be found at http://members.aol.com/shpltd/index-page6.html . M.A.H. ........................................................................... Item 3 ENHA No. 25, January 28, 1998 ........................................................................... Announcement of a New Journal: Culture and Cosmos ------------------------------------------------- Culture and Cosmos A Journal of the History of Astrology and Cultural Astronomy ISSN 1368-6534 PO Box 1071, Bristol BS99 1HE, UK, E-Mail: culture@caol.demon.co.uk Editor: Nicholas Campion Deputy Editor: Patrick Curry PhD Publication: twice a year in Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter Subscriptions for two issues are: Individuals: GBP 13 UK and Europe, GBP 15 overseas Institutions: GBP 22 UK and Europe, GBP 15 24 overseas Single issues: GBP 6.50 UK and Europe, GBP 7.50 overseas Subscriptions: Culture and Cosmos, PO Box 1071, Bristol BS99 1HE, UK; E-mail: subs@caol.demon.co.uk Payment must be in sterling. Visa and Mastercard accepted: we need your card number and expiry date, the full name on the card and your mailing address. Culture and Cosmos is a peer-reviewed journal devoted to the study of the history of cultural astronomy and astrology. If astrology is the use of celestial phenomena to provide meaning for human life, then cultural astronomy is the broader use of astronomical beliefs and theories to regulate and inform society, politics, the arts and every aspect of human life. This encompasses the new disciplines of ethno-astronomy and archaeo-astronomy. The journal is independent and has been launched as a result of a feeling for at least the last ten years that the increasing amount of research into the history of astrology, together with the argument that the history of astrology makes an important contribution to the history of religion, ideas and science, now justifies a new publication. Astrology though, cannot be narrowly defined, and has no existence outside of a broader philosophical, religious, scientific, cosmological and social context. Hence it is felt that the journal's scope should extend beyond the strict study of astrology itself. We will consider articles on any aspect of the history of astrology or cultural astronomy, from earliest times down to the present day. Our subjects may vary from the development of astrology in ancient Sumer, to astral alignments in central America or the British Isles, astral mythology in the Renaissance, the function of astrology in the arts and literature, the political consequences of the Copernican revolution and contemporary belief in alien abduction. We will also carry news and reviews. Our editorial board is drawn from every area of the study of the history of astronomy and astrology from ancient times to modern, covering all perspectives, from scientific to religious. Editorial Board Dr. Silke Ackermann, Professor Anthony F. Aveni, Dr. Guiseppe Bezza, Professor. J. Bruce Brackenbridge, Dr. David Brown, Dr. Charles Burnett, Dr. Hilary M. Carey, Dr. ohn Carlson, Professor Robert Ellwood, Dr. Germana Ernst, Dr. Ann Geneva, Dr. Jacques Halbronn, Robert Hand, Professor Norris Hetherington, Professor Michael Hunter, Professor Ronald Hutton, Annabella Kitson MA, Dr. Nick Kollerstrom, Dr. Edwin C. Krupp, Dr. J. Lee Lehman, Professor Kenneth Negus, Professor John North, Professor P. M. Rattansi, Professor Francesca Rochberg, Professor James Santucci, Robert Schmidt, Professor Richard Tarnas, Dr. David Ulansey, Robin Waterfield, Dr. Charles Webster, Dr. Graziella Federici Vescovini, Dr. Paula Zambelli, Robert Zoller. Contents, Vol 1 no 1: Robin Heath (Cardigan): An Astronomical Basis for Solar Hero Myths Norris Hetherington (California): Ancient Greek Cosmology and Culture: A Historiographical Review Alan Weber (State University of NY, Binghamton): The Development of Celestial Journey Literature, 1400 - 1650 Ken Negus (Princeton, New Jersey), Kepler's Tertius Interveniens John Durant (Imperial College, London) and Martin Bauer (London School of Economics): British Public Perceptions of Astrology: An Approach from the Sociology of Knowledge Future articles will feature: Alexander Militarev and Lara Bobrova (Moscow): The Origin of Semitic and Greek Star Names Nick Kollerstrom (London): The Original Starry Zodiac Robert Zoller (New York): The Hermetica as Ancient Science Jurgen Hoppman (Berlin): Melanchthon's horoscope of Luther Edgar Laird (State University, Texas): Christine de Pizan and courtly controversy concerning Astronomia Elizabeth Heine (New Jersey): W.B.Yeats, Poet and Astrologer Milky Way Dreaming: contemporary aboriginal art of the stars N.C. ........................................................................... Item 4 ENHA No. 25, January 28, 1998 ........................................................................... XVII International Scientific Instrument Symposium -------------------------------------------------- 20-25th July 1998, Soro, Denmark Conference announcement and call for papers The Scientific Instrument Commission (SIC) will visit Scandinavia for the first time in 1998 when it holds its XVII International Scientific Instrument Symposium in Denmark. The Conference will be held at Soro Academy. Soro Academy houses Hauchs Physiske Cabinet, one of Europe's largest cabinets of physics and chemistry from about 1800. The conference will include three full days of papers, a full-day museum trip to Copenhagen, a post-conference tour to the Steno Museum in Aarhus, besides social activities. Participation by and contributions from persons who have not previously attended the meetings of the Commission are welcome and encouraged. Call for papers and posters: The Commission and the Local Organising Committee strongly encourage suggestions for papers and posters for the Conference. There will be two main themes for the Conference: 1. Cabinets of Physics and Chemistry, 2. Instruments- and Instrument Makers in Scandinavia. Although these themes will be given priority, we also welcome papers in other areas. The language of the conference is English, although papers in other languages may be accepted. Speakers will have 20 minutes for their paper, and there will be an additional 5 minutes for questions. There will be provisions for posters next to the conference room and recreational area. The titles and abstracts of papers and posters should be sent to the conference Office. They will be considered by the Academic programme Committee after the closing of the deadline. The deadline for submission of titles and abstracts is April 1st 1998. Please contact the Conference Office if you have any queries. The Scientific Instrument Commission The SIC is a commission under the Division of History, of the International Union of History and Philosophy, of Science, which is an organisation affiliated to UNESCO. The SIC seeks to promote interest and encourage research in the history of scientific instruments. President: Dr. Jim Bennett, Keeper, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. Vice-president: Dr. Paolo Brenni, CNR - Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza, Firenze. Secretary: Dr. Peter de Clercq, Museum Boerhaave, Leiden The Local organising Committee: Chairman: Jan Tapdrup, History of Science Dept., Univ. of Aarhus/Magdalen College, Oxford. General Secretary: Jorgen From Andersen, Soro Academy. Secretary: Hanne Wagner, Soro Academy. Committee members: Mogens Bencard, Director, Rosenborg; Dr. Kristian Peder Moesgaard, Director, the Steno Museum; Professor Helge Kragh, History of Science Dept. Univ of Aarhus; Jon Villadsen, Soro Academy. Academic Programme Committee: Chairman: Professor G.L'E. Turner, Imperial College, London. Vice-chairman: Dr. Jim Bennett, Keeper, Museum of History of Science, Oxford. Secretary: Jan Tapdrup, History of Science Dept., University of Aarhus/Magdalen College, Oxford. Further information: Please write to the conference office for the first circular. Further information is also avaliable on the web-page for the conference. http://www.sic.iuhps.org/symposium98/ Deadlines: The second circular for the conference will be sent out in February 1998. The deadline for registration will be April 1st 1998. Registration after this date will be subject to a surcharge. Registration by letters received later than 20th June 1998 is unfortunately not possible due to booking of accommodation and staff considerations. The deadline for offering papers and posters is April 1st 1998 Conference Office: Please send any queries or letters to the conference office: XVII International Scientific Instrument Symposium, Soro Academy, Postbox. 37, DK-4180 Soro, Denmark Phone: +45 5782 0135 E-mail: ievhjan@dfi.aau.dk Fax: +45 5782 0136 ........................................................................... Item 5 ENHA No. 25, January 28, 1998 ........................................................................... Conferences 1998/99 ------------------- (From: "Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 25, 16. Januar 1998, Item 6. Partial translations by the editor.) Further conferences in the year 1998 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 6-10 January 1998, Washington, DC, USA 191st Meeting of the American Astronomical Society Among the sessions: Jan. 6, 1:00-5:00pm: LeRoy E. Doggett Memorial Session (HAD I) Jan. 7, 10:00-11:30am and 2:00-3:30pm: Historical Astronomy Division, II & III These sessions are organized by David DeVorkin, nasdsh03@sivm.si.edu URLs: http://www.aas.org/meetings/aas191/program/ http://www.aas.org/meetings/aas191/program/had1.html http://www.aas.org/meetings/aas191/program/had23.html 24-27 February 1998, Trier, Germany Conference: "Historical-thematic cartography: concepts, methods, applications" Information: Martin Schmidt, schmidtm@uni-trier.de URL: http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/termine/trier.htm 13-14 March 1998, London, Great Britain Harmony of the Heavens Conference organized by the British Museum and the Warburg Institute. Invited papers from historians working in astronomy, art and music with a strong emphasis on scientific instruments. Information: Silke Ackermann, Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, phone 0171-323 8395 21-23 May 1998, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Science and travels, 35th Symposium of the German "Gesellschaft fuer Wissenschaftsgeschichte" [History of Science Society], in cooperation with the Dutch "Genootschap voor Geschiedenes der Geneeskunde, Wiskunde, Natuurwetenschapen en Techniek" [Society for the History of Medicin, Philosophy, Science and Technology] From the programme: H. Hecht (Potsdam): New dimensions of scientific travels in the 18th century. Maupertuis' expedition to Lapland. - R. H. van Gent (Utrecht): The German Clergyman Johan Maurits Mohr and his private astronomical observatory in Batavia (Java). Registration: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang U. Eckart, President of the Gesellschaft fuer Wissenschaftsgeschichte, Institut fuer Geschichte der Medizin, Ruprecht-Karls-Universitaet Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 368, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany, e-mail: Wolfgang.eckart@urz.uni-heidelberg.de URL: http://hsozkult.geschichte.hu-berlin.de/termine/reisen.htm 21-24 May 1998, Weil am Rhein, Germany 27th Annual Meeting of the Arbeitskreis Sonnenuhren [Sundial Working Group] in the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Chronometrie [German Chronometric Society] Place: Atlas-Hotel Weil am Rhein, 1500 m from the suburbs of Basel Fee: Non-members DM 55.00, speakers DM 35.00 (including excursion) Cultural programme: Visits to museums and sundials in Basel (Switzerland) and surroundings Deadline: 31 January 1998 Organisation: Margrit und Robert Felix, Kleinhueningerstr. 170, CH-4057 Basel, Switzerland, Tel. + Fax +41 61 631 10 34, e-mail: rfelix@compuserve.com 25 June - 1 July 1998, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA 110th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Sunday, June 28: History Session: invited lectures on Astronomy in New Mexico and on Cosmology 1948 - 1998 Inquiries to: Joe Tenn, e-mail: joe.tenn@sonoma.edu URL: http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/people/faculty/tenn/ASPHistory1998.html 20-25 July 1998, Soro, Denmark XVII International Scientific Instrument Symposium of the Scientific Instrument Commission of the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science Main themes: Cabinets of Physics and Chemistry, Instruments and Instrument Makers in Scandinavia. Papers not related to these subjects will also be considered. Opening lecture on Tycho Brahe by Owen Gingerich. Tours: To Copenhagen with visits to Rundetaarn (Astronomical Observatory), the Danish National Museum and Rosenborg (the Royal Chronological Collections); to the Steno Museum at Aarhus. Information: XVII International Scientific Instrument Symposium, Soro Academy, Postbox 37, DK-4180 Soro, Denmark, Phone: +45 5782 0135, Fax +45 5782 0136, e-mail: ievhjan@dfi.aau.dk URL: http://www.sic.iuhps.org/symposium98/ [See also the extended announcement in Item 3 of this issue.] 22 July 1998, Brighton, Great Britain The History of Measurement. Symposium of the FIG (the International Federation of Surveyors) ad hoc History Commission during the FIG XXI Congress. Themes: 18th century; introduction of the metric system in the 1790s; introduction of the electronic distance measurement in the 1940s Information: J.R.Smith Esq FRICS, FIG ad hoc Commission, 24 Woodbury Ave, Petersfield, Hants GU32 2EE, England, phone/fax +44 1730 262 619, e-mail: 101765.332@compuserve.com 18-27 August 1998, Berlin, Germany International Congress of Mathematicians, Section 19: History of Mathematics Chairman of the Program Committee: Phillip A. Griffiths, Institute for Advanced Study, Olden Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540-0631, USA Phone: +1/609/734-8200, Fax: +1/609/683-7605, E-mail: pg@math.ias.edu URL: http://elib.zib.de:8000/ICM 23-28 August 1998, Berlin, Germany 8th International Conference on the History of Science in China (ICHSC) Contact Address: Welf H. Schnell Technische Universitaet Berlin, Institut fuer Philosophie, Sekr: 14 - 7, Ernst-Reuter-Platz 7, 10587 Berlin, Germany URL: http://station4.kgw.tu-berlin.de/ 3-7 October 1998, Berlin, Germany IXth Symposium of the International Coronelli Society Theme: Everything related to old globes, armillary spheres, planetaria and their makers. Conference languages: German and English Place: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (State Library at Berlin) Further programme: Excursion to Dresden to visit a special exhibition on maps, globes, and instruments; visits to globe collections in Berlin Contacts: Internationale Coronelli-Gesellschaft, Dominikanerbastei 21/28, A-1010 Vienna, Austria, Fax +43 1 532 08 24. 1-7 July 1999, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 111th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Sunday, July 4: History Session: invited lectures Monday, July 5: History Session: contributed papers Inquiries to: Joe Tenn, e-mail: joe.tenn@sonoma.edu 11-16 July 1999, Athens, Greece 18th International Conference on the History of Cartography 'The Cartography of the Mediterranean World' - and any other aspect of the history of cartography. Further Information: Tony Campbell, Map Librarian and Chairman of Imago Mundi Ltd, British Library, Map Library, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, UK, Phone: 0171 412 7525, International: +44 171 412 7525, Fax: 0171 412 7780, International: +44 171 412 7780, email: tony.campbell@bl.uk URL: http://ihr.sas.ac.uk/maps/confmnu.html (under construction) ........................................................................... Acknowledgements ---------------- For contributions and information we thank: Nicholas Campion (UK), Margrit und Robert Felix (Basel, Switzerland), Klaus-Dieter Herbst (Jena, Germany), Michael A. Hoskin (Cambridge, UK), Jan Tapdrup (Aarhus, Denmark, Oxford, UK), Joe Tenn (Rohnert Park, CA, USA). ........................................................................... 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/aa/aa.html Chairman: Prof. Dr. Peter Brosche, Observatorium Hoher List der Sternwarte der Universitaet Bonn, D-54550 Daun, Germany, Tel.: (++6592) 2150, Fax: (++6592) 985140 Secretary: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick, Bundesamt fuer Kartographie und Geodaesie, Aussenstelle Potsdam, Postfach 60 08 08, D-14408 Potsdam, Germany, Tel.: (++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" ***************************************************************************