*************************************************************************** * * * ELEKTRONISCHE MITTEILUNGEN ZUR ASTRONOMIEGESCHICHTE * * * * Herausgegeben vom Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte * * in der Astronomischen Gesellschaft * * * * Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 * * * * Redaktion: Wolfgang R. Dick * * * *************************************************************************** Inhalt ------ 1. Initiativkreis Albert-Einstein-Haus Caputh 2. Scheiner-Ausstellung in Ratingen 3. Exhibition on One Thousand Years of the Art and Science of Astronomy 4. Gudrun Richardson: The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Archive Resource 5. Conference Announcement: Cosmology through Time 6. 20th Scientific Instrument Symposium 7. Weitere Tagungen 2001 8. Stattgefundene Tagungen Danksagung Impressum ........................................................................... Item 1 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... Initiativkreis Albert-Einstein-Haus Caputh ------------------------------------------ (Aus: "Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte" Nr. 17, Jan. 2000, S. 1; mit einer Ergaenzung - siehe Schluss.) Potsdam und seine Umgebung sind mit Albert Einstein, der fast 20 Jahre im damaligen Zentrum der Physik Berlin wirkte, direkt und indirekt verbunden. Erinnert sei an das Astrophysikalische Observatorium Potsdam, an dem Albert Michelson sein Aether-Experiment durchfuehrte, und wo Karl Schwarzschild wirkte, der sich mit den Konsequenzen der Einsteinschen Relativitaetstheorie fuer die Astrophysik befasste. Diese Verbindung hat uns auch zwei gegenstaendliche Zeugen hinterlassen: den von Erich Mendelsohn geschaffenen Einsteinturm auf dem Potsdamer Telegraphenberg und das von Konrad Wachsmann in Caputh gebaute Sommerhaus Albert Einsteins. Hier, wenige Kilometer von Potsdam und Berlin entfernt, verbrachte Einstein zwischen 1929 und 1932 einen Grossteil der Sommermonate. Beide Baudenkmale sind wegen ihrer Geschichte und dem durch sie dokumentierten Zusammentreffen von Naturwissenschaft und Architektur auch fuer zukuenftige Generationen als Zeitzeugen zu erhalten. Waehrend der Einsteinturm seine Sanierung hinter sich hat und nun in neuem Glanz erstrahlt, ist die Situation bei Einsteins Sommerhaus weniger zufriedenstellend. Um hier Abhilfe zu schaffen, haben interessierte und engagierte Caputher Buerger einen Initiativkreis gebildet. Im Folgenden werden die Zielstellungen des Initiativkreises geschildert. Der Kreis freut sich ueber jede weitere auch ueber Caputh hinausgehende Unterstuetzung. Interessenten koennen unter der am Textende genannten Adresse Kontakt aufnehmen. Die Zielsetzungen des Initiativkreises Albert-Einstein-Haus Caputh Auch nach mehr als zehn Jahren deutscher Einheit ist die rechtliche Situation um das Sommerhaus Albert Einsteins ungeklaert. Da das Haus zunehmend verfaellt und sich inzwischen in einem erschreckenden Zustand befindet, muessen alle Bemuehungen auf eine moeglichst baldige Restaurierung gerichtet sein. Der Initiativkreis Albert-Einstein-Haus Caputh hat sich zum Ziele gesetzt, interessierte Personen und Institutionen zusammenzufuehren, die die Lebendigkeit des geistigen Erbes Albert Einsteins sowie die Erhaltung des Einstein-Hauses foerdern wollen. Er versteht sich als Katalysator und Ansprechpartner fuer Gespraeche zu diesem Thema und setzt sich vor allem ein fuer: * eine Reduzierung der touristischen Nutzung des Sommerhauses und die gleichzeitige Einrichtung eines Informationszentrums in Caputh, in dem Dokumente und Informationen zur Geschichte des Sommerhauses sowie zu seinem Besitzer und seinem Architekten praesentiert werden sollen; * die Substanzerhaltung des Sommerhauses in Vorbereitung der dringend notwendigen Restaurierung, die auch unabhaengig von der kuenftigen Nutzung geboten ist; * die Initiierung und Moderation einer Diskussion und Realisierung eines Nutzungskonzeptes unter Mitwirkung aller daran Interessierter. Das Interesse an dem Haus und insbesondere an Albert Einstein sowie dem Architekten Konrad Wachsmann soll in der Oeffentlichkeit wach gehalten werden. Der Initiativkreis thematisiert dazu wissenschaftliche, architekturhistorische, lokale und zeitgeschichtliche Aspekte mit Veranstaltungen, Vortraegen, Publikationen und Ausstellungen. So sind verschiedene Vortragsveranstaltungen und eine Ausstellung zum 100. Geburtstag Wachsmanns am 16. Mai 2001 in Vorbereitung. Auch damit moechte der Initiativkreis ein breites Interesse fuer die Unterstuetzung seiner Aktivitaeten wecken. Initiativkreis Albert-Einstein-Haus Caputh Dr. Peter Ackermann, Wiebke Franck, Prof. Dr. Guenther Hasinger, Carmen Hohlfeld, Dietmar Strauch per Adresse: Wiebke Franck, Am Kraehenberg 19c, 14548 Caputh, Tel.: 033209/724 77, Fax: 033209/723 87, e-mail: Franck.Caputh@t-online.de Anm. d. Red.: Zum Sommerhaus von Albert Einstein siehe auch EMA Nr. 8, 22. Dez. 1994, "Museen und Ausstellungen", sowie EMA Nr. 38, 17. Maerz 1999, Item 5. In diesem Jahr ist das Haus wegen Baufaelligkeit nicht fuer die Oeffentlichkeit zugaenglich. ........................................................................... Item 2 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... Scheiner-Ausstellung in Ratingen -------------------------------- Das Oberschlesische Landesmuseum in Ratingen-Hoesel bei Duesseldorf zeigt vom 4. Maerz bis zum 29. April 2001 die Ausstellung "Sonne entdecken" ueber den Astronomen Christoph Scheiner (1575-1650). Oeffnungszeiten: Di-Mi, Fr-So 11-17 Uhr, Do 11-20 Uhr Anschrift: Oberschlesisches Landesmuseum, Bahnhofstr. 62, 40883 Ratingen-Hoesel, Tel.: 02102 / 965-0, Fax: 02102 / 965-240 URL: http://www.ratingen.de/de/magazin/olmuseum.htm Ueber die Ausstellung, die im vorigen Jahr bereits in Ingolstadt und Bonn gezeigt worden war, siehe EMA Nr. 51, 27. Juli 2000, Item 2. ........................................................................... Item 3 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... Exhibition on One Thousand Years of the Art and Science of Astronomy -------------------------------------------------------------------- Vintage telescopes, astronomy manuscripts dating back to the 13th century, a Moon rock and NASA pictures of distant galaxies are displayed at the Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif., in an exhibit exploring humanity's quest to understand the cosmos. The exhibit, called "Star Struck: One Thousand Years of the Art and Science of Astronomy," features images taken by NASA/JPL planetary missions over the past four decades, along with historic astronomical instruments and important works by Galileo, Cassini, Huygens and other early astronomers. "NASA and JPL have been part of creating a new era of observing the universe by sending probes to the planets in our solar system and putting telescopes in space that can observe the universe in much greater detail," said Dr. Edward Stone, director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. Stone advised the Huntington Library in assembling the exhibit. The three astronomical themes included in the exhibit, Stone said, are: What is our place in the universe? How do we observe the universe to understand that? What have we seen that has allowed us to understand better our place in the universe? Visitors to the exhibit, which runs until May 13, will also see the first hand-drawn star map of the southern hemisphere and a 1913 letter from Albert Einstein asking astronomer George Ellery Hale, founder of the Mount Wilson and Palomar Mountain observatories, to review his new theory of general relativity. This exhibit is the first in "The Universe" series of space-related events in the Pasadena area in coming months. Other institutions and organizations taking part are the California Institute of Technology, Armory Center for the Arts, Art Center College of Design, Norton Simon Museum, One Colorado, Pacific Asia Museum and Southwest Chamber Music. For hours, admission and more information on the Huntington Library, see http://www.huntington.org . For information on space exploration and astronomical objects, see JPL's website at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov . JPL, a NASA center, is a division of Caltech. Source: JPL Press Release, February 6, 2001 Contact: JPL -- Martha J. Heil (818) 354-0850 Huntington Library -- Dan Lewis (626) 405-2141 ........................................................................... Item 4 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Archive Resource ------------------------------------------------ By Gudrun Richardson, London, UK The Sackler Archive Resource is developed by the Royal Society Library and generously funded by the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Trust. The Resource is a biographical database of Fellows of the Royal Society from its inception in 1660 to the present day (excluding the current Fellowship) and includes some 8,000 figures from the history of science. Names such as Sir Christopher Wren (FRS 1663), Sir Humphry Davy (FRS 1803) and Charles Darwin (FRS 1839) appear alongside their contemporaries who have been all but lost to history. The aim of the five-year project is to bring together the diverse printed sources relating to the history of the Fellowship into a fully searchable database. Election certificates are being transcribed, allowing users to search for research interests and also to identify links between individual scientists through candidates' proposers. Other biographical elements include education, career details and family relationships; other information includes references to obituaries of Fellows published by the Royal Society. The next aim of the project is to scan portraits of Fellows and attach these to the biographical records. The Resource is now available via the Royal Society's website: www.royalsoc.ac.uk/library/index.html , under the link "Online catalogues". Also available is the library catalogue of the Royal Society, a collection of history of science and science policy, built around the Royal Society's work and Fellows. Work on the Sackler Archive Resource is ongoing and additional information would be most welcome. Comments regarding either the Resource or the library catalogue can be sent to: sackler@royalsoc.ac.uk Author's address: Gudrun Richardson (Miss) Researcher (Raymond and Beverly Sackler Archive Resource) tel + 44 (0) 20 7451 2602 fax + 44 (0) 20 7930 2170 email gudrun.richardson@royalsoc.ac.uk Registered Charity No 207043 The Royal Society - promoting excellence in science http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk ........................................................................... Item 5 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... Conference Announcement: Cosmology through Time ----------------------------------------------- (Aus: Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy, No. 45, April 11, 2001, Item 2) International Meeting Astronomical Observatory of Rome Monteporzio Catone, June, 17-21, 2001 COSMOLOGY THROUGH TIME / LA COSMOLOGIA NEL TEMPO (Ancient and Modern Cosmologies in the Mediterranean Area) SOC: Bertola, F., Bono, G., Bonoli, F., Buonanno, R., Capaccioli, M., Castellani, V., Cham-Cham, K., Fodera`-Serio, G., Malik, A., Panaino, A., Picchioni, S. LOC: Colafrancesco, S. (chair), Amendola, L., D'Alessio, F., Giobbi, G., Menci, N., Monaco, G. Organizers: Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Osservatorio Astronomico di Capodimonte, Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, * Egyptian Embassy, Societa Astronomica Italiana, * Lybian Embassy, Universita` di Roma "Tor Vergata", Universite`Hassan II Ain-Chock - Casablanca, * Moroccan Embassy, Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e L'Oriente, Associazione per l'Amicizia Italo-Araba, AlmaMed, ESCO * = Possible Co-Organizer Language ======== The Conference official language is English. Special sessions will be held in Italian. Aim of the Meeting ================== Nowadays, we regard cosmology as a modern science, but cosmological thoughts have been part of humanity throughout history. All cultures have a cosmology, because such questions have been asked by all peoples for as long as we have wondered at the stars. The explanations have varied from culture to culture, and from time to time, but all of them seek to impose an order upon the cosmos, so as to make it accessible to the human mind. This is just as true of scientific as of pre-scientific cosmologies. Astronomy has been one of the main scientific areas (the mother of sciences in the Arab tradition) to investigate physical laws using Mathematics since the beginning of early scientific developments. And yet, there is more to it. Astronomy, being the most immediate and useful area of Science at our disposal, had the power to link different civilizations, cultures and religions throughout the evolution of humankind. While Astronomy withered in Medieval Europe, it flourished in Islam. Renaissance astronomers learned from the texts of Islamic scholars who had preserved and transformed the Science of the Ancient Greek and Arab cultures. Modern Cosmology originates from this historical stage of cultural revolution which brought new scientific concepts into the mathematical framework of Islamic Astronomy. The Mediterranean area has been the cradle of modern Astronomy and Cosmology and still retains the connections between Ancient and Modern Cosmology. This meeting wants to re-discover these ties in the light of our current knowledge of the Universe, of the origin of time and space, in the spirit of the ancient travellers guided by the stars. IMPORTANT DATES: January 20th, 2001: First announcement March 1st, 2001: Second announcement April 2nd, 2001: Registration and Contribution through web May 2nd, 2001: Deadline for Hotel Booking May 15th, 2001: Final announcement and program CONTACT ADDRESS: Scientific Secretary Dr. Giuliana Giobbi Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Via Frascati 33, I-00040 Monte Porzio Catone - Roma - Italy Fax +39-069447243 email: cosmo01@coma.mporzio.astro.it TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED: - Ancient Astronomy, Early Cosmology - The Role of Astronomy in the development of Cultures in the Mediterranean area - Astronomy, Astrology and Religions in the Early Epochs - Astronomy, Time and Travels - Historical and scientific outline - Ancient cosmologies Cosmologies of the Mesopotamic area Cosmologies of the ancient Egypt Cosmology of the Hebrews The vision of the Universe in ancient Greece - The origin of Cosmology and Astronomy in the Arab culture Traditional science in Arabia Astronomy, astrology and religion Mathematical astronomy and its techniques - Schools of Arab Astronomy Iraq and Iran Egypt, Syria, Yemen Maghreb The Impact of Arab culture in Spain - From Early to Modern Cosmology The Arab Heritage and the Origin of Modern Astronomy Medieval European Cosmologies Dante's Cosmology and Christian Cosmology - The origin of Modern Cosmology - Philosophy and the Structure of Scientific Knowledge - Scientific Revolutions and the idea of the World - The idea of the World after the advent of Quantum Mechanics: Quantum Physics and Cosmology - The pillars of Modern Cosmology - The Anthropic Principle and Modern Cosmology - Time, Space and Energy in Modern Cosmology - Cosmology, Astrology and Religions nowadays - Archeo-Astronomy in the Mediterranean area - Contemporary Astronomy and Cosmology in the Mediterranean area SPECIAL EVENTS: * V. Castellani - Conferenza Pubblica * S. Rossi Esser - Letture in italiano di poesie di Hildegarde von Bingen * Inaugurazione dell'AstroLab presso l'Osservatorio Astronomico CONTRIBUTIONS: Oral contributions are accepted by specialists of the topics listed above. A preliminary title and abstract are requested. Deadline for contributions: APRIL 2, 2001. REGISTRATIONS: Please fill in and send by e-mail the registration form at: http://www.mporzio.astro.it/cosmo2001/registration.html Deadline for registrations: APRIL 2, 2001. PROCEEDINGS & FEES: The Conference Proceedings will be published. Further informations about Registration fees, social events and other details will be provided in the second announcement. ACCOMODATION: Participants must take care of their own accomodation by choosing one of the hotels listed at http://www.mporzio.astro.it/cosmo2001/alberghi.html and book their room by fax using the form provided. The deadline for hotel booking is MAY 2, 2001. The Observatory does not answer for room availability after this date. Transport is only provided to and from the hotels in the list. TRANSPORT: Monteporzio is accessible by trains, local coaches and taxis. Details about how to reach the Observatory and maps of the area are provided at the following site: http://www.mporzio.astro.it/~giobbi/infomp.html Tentative list of Speakers ========================== Barbour, J. (UK) Belmonte Aviles J.A. (Spain) Bonoli, F. (Bologna) Buonanno, R. ( Universita' di Roma II "Tor Vergata") Capaccioli, M. (SAIt, OAC) Castellani, V. (Pisa) Cham-Cham, K. (Casablanca) Davies, P. (Australia) DeMeis, S. (Milano) Elamrani-Jamal (Casablanca) Guiderdoni B. (Paris) Hunger H. (Vienna) King D. (Francoforte) Kunitsz P. (Munich) Panaino, A. (Bologna) Picchioni, S. (Bologna) Pingree, D. (Brown Univ.) Rashed, R. (Paris) Saliba, G. (Columbia Univ.) Silk J. (Oxford UK) Treumann, R. (MPG Munich, Garmany) Vittorio, N. (II Universita' di Roma II "Tor Vergata") For further informations and questions, please contact the L.O.C. at the following address: cosmo01@coma.mporzio.astro.it Or visit the Web site at: http://www.mporzio.astro.it/cosmo2001/ ........................................................................... Item 6 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... 20th Scientific Instrument Symposium ------------------------------------ (Aus: Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy, No. 45, April 11, 2001, Item 4) The 20th Scientific Instrument Symposium of the Scientific Instrument Commission of the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science will take place at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, at the invitation of the Center for the History of Science from Monday 15th to Friday 19th October, 2001. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is an independent, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting the development of science. The Center for the History of Science, established in 1988, is an international research institute operating under the auspices of the Academy. Its purpose is to accomplish, stimulate and support research within the history of science. The sessions of the symposium will take place at the Academy. The Academy is situated near a subway station providing easy access. Some visits will be arranged for example to the Observatory Museum, where many of the instruments belonging to the Academy are on display. We will also visit the Nobel Jubilee Exhibition, which opens in the spring of 2001. Trips outside of Stockholm will take us to Uppsala and to the Baroque castle of Skokloster. Conference address: 20th International Scientific Instrument Symposium Center for History of Science Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences Box 50005 SE-104 05 Stockholm Sweden Tel: +46-(0)8-673 95 00 Fax: +46-(0)8-673 95 98 E-mail: sic2001@kva.se Web: http://www.cfvh.kva.se/sic2001.htm Organising committee: Olov Amelin, Inga Elmqvist, Tore Frangsmyr, Karl Grandin, Christina Hallden and Svante Lindqvist. The 20th Scientific Instrument Symposium in Stockholm is sponsored by the Wenner-Gren Foundations. ........................................................................... Item 7 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... Weitere Tagungen 2001 --------------------- (Aus: Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy, No. 45, April 11, 2001, Item 6) Weitere Tagungen im Jahr 2001 wurden in den vorangegangenen Ausgaben angekuendigt. Fuer eine komplette Liste aller bisher gemeldeten Tagungen siehe: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/hist_astr/ha_meet.html April 27-28, 2001, Palo Alto, CA, USA Baroque Imaginary: The World of Athanasius Kircher, S. J. (1602-80) Place: Stanford University Contacts: Paula Findlen, e-mail: pfindlen@leland.stanford.edu June 11-16, 2001, Palermo, Italy Asteroids 2001: from Piazzi to the 3rd Millenium Contacts: Carlo Blanco, Universita di Catania, Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Via S. Sofia, 78, I-95125 Catania, Italy, Phone +390957332245, Fax +39095330592, e-mail: cblanco@alpha4.ct.astro.it June 13-16, 2001, Paris, France Culture scientifique : les observatoires de Paris et de Palerme Contacts: D. Chalonge, Observatoire de Paris - DEMIRM, 61, avenue de l'Observatoire, PARIS, France, 75014, Phone 33-01-40-51-22-21, Fax 33-01-40-51-20-02, e-mail: chalonge@mesiob.obspm.fr July 8-14, Mexico City, Mexico XXIst International Congress of History of Science, Symposium "Astronomical Heritage of Non-European Cultural Areas" Contacts: Prof. S.M. Razaullah Ansari, c/o Physics Department, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India, Fax: ++91-571-400466, e-mail: Raza.Ansari@gmx.net ........................................................................... Item 8 EMA Nr. 55, 17. April 2001 ........................................................................... Stattgefundene Tagungen ----------------------- (Aus: Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy, No. 45, April 11, 2001, Item 7) January 7-8, 2001, San Diego, CA, USA 197th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society Session 1. HAD I: Boners of the Century Session 23. HAD II Contacts: Barvara Welther, e-mail: bwelther@cfa.harvard.edu http://www.aas.org/meetings/aas197/program/ February 10, 2001, Oakland, CA, USA Meeting of the Northern California History of Astronomy Luncheon and Discussion Association (NCHALDA) Further information: Norm Sperling, email: nsperling@california.com ........................................................................... Danksagung ---------- Neben der Autorin sei fuer Informationen gedankt: Peter Ackermann, S.M. Razaullah Ansari, Silvia Barbantani, Ansgar Korte und Norm Sperling. ........................................................................... Impressum --------- Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte (EMA) Herausgegeben vom Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte in der Astronomischen Gesellschaft Redaktion: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick Alle nicht namentlich gekennzeichneten Mitteilungen sind redaktionelle Beitraege. Aufsaetze sowie Mitteilungen fuer die Rubriken werden gern entgegengenommen. Der Bezug der EMA ist kostenlos. Abonnenten und Leser werden um gelegentliche freiwillige Spenden an den Arbeitskreis gebeten. Die Elektronischen Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte duerfen unbegrenzt weiterverbreitet werden, sofern dafuer keine Gebuehr erhoben wird. Ein oeffentliches Abgebot in WWW-Servern, BBS etc. ist gestattet, sofern die Redaktion informiert wird. Die Reproduktion von Auszuegen in elektronischen oder Druckmedien ist nur mit Genehmigung der Redaktion gestattet. Die Elektronischen Mitteilungen ergaenzen die gedruckten Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte, die derzeit halbjaehrlich erscheinen: Preis: 1,50 DM/Ausgabe zzgl. Versandkosten Ausserhalb der BRD: kostenfrei, Spenden erwuenscht Bezug: Einsendung von 2,50 DM (Einzelheft) oder 5,- DM (Nr. 18-19) in Briefmarken an die Redaktion Redaktion: Dr. W. R. Dick, Anschrift siehe unten Kostenlose Probeexemplare koennen bei der Redaktion angefordert werden. Anschriften des Arbeitskreises Astronomiegeschichte: URL: http://www.astro.uni-bonn.de/~pbrosche/aa/aa.html Vorsitzender: Prof. Dr. Peter Brosche, Observatorium Hoher List der Sternwarte der Universitaet Bonn, D-54550 Daun, Tel.: +49(0)6592 2150, Fax: +49(0)6592 985140 Sekretaer: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick, Otterkiez 14, D-14478 Potsdam, e-mail: wdi@potsdam.ifag.de Spendenkonto der Astronomischen Gesellschaft: Konto-Nr. 333 410 41, Sparkasse Bochum (BLZ 430 500 01) Ueberweisungen aus dem Ausland: Konto Nr. 16218-203, Postbank Hamburg, BLZ 200 100 20 Alle Einzahlungen bitte mit Vermerk "Fuer Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte" ***************************************************************************