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* *
* ELEKTRONISCHE MITTEILUNGEN ZUR ASTRONOMIEGESCHICHTE *
* *
* Herausgegeben vom Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte *
* in der Astronomischen Gesellschaft *
* *
* Nr. 66, 22. November 2003 *
* *
* Redaktion: Wolfgang R. Dick und Hilmar W. Duerbeck *
* *
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Inhalt
------
1. Exhibition on Francois Arago in Paris
2. Ausstellung zum Venusdurchgang in Utrecht
3. International Conference: Zdenek Kopal's Binary Star Legacy
4. Symposium "Fotografie und Wissenschaft"
5. Conference "Horoscopes and History"
6. XXIII Scientific Instrument Symposium
Danksagung
Impressum
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Item 1 EMA Nr. 66, 22. Nov. 2003
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Exhibition on Francois Arago in Paris
-------------------------------------
"Francois Arago et l'Observatoire de Paris"
Exhibition from October 4 to December 6, 2003
at Paris Observatory
Paris Observatory opens its gates between October 4 to December 6, 2003 to
present an exposition dedicated to Francois Arago, astronomer and
politician, whose 150th anniversary of death is remembered this year.
Francois Arago (1786 - 1853) was an important figure of the scientific and
political life in the first half of the 19th century. Paris Observatory,
which he joined in 1805 and where he died in 1853, is the center of his
intense and many-sided activity. The observatory owns an abundant estate
which is unknown to the general public, and has thus arranged an exhibition
to pay tribute to this unusual personality. The exhibition permits to
rediscover his scientific and political adventures by means of manuscripts,
instruments and vestiges, and the lecture hall where he gave his famous
"Course in popular astronomy". Each visitor can feel the impression which
has been imprinted into the walls of the Observatory and into the memory of
Paris by one of its famous directors who was also briefly president.
The exhibition is open on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays
and Sundays between 2 and 6 p.m.
Batiment Perrault, 61, avenue de l'Observatoire,
75014 Paris, France
Admission fee: 4.50 EUR
[adopted from:
http://www.obspm.fr/actual/nouvelle/oct03/Expo-Arago.fr.shtml]
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Item 2 EMA Nr. 66, 22. Nov. 2003
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Ausstellung zum Venusdurchgang in Utrecht
-----------------------------------------
Vom 19. Dezember 2003 bis 5. September 2004 zeigt das Astronomiemuseum
"Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh" in Utrecht (Niederlande) die Ausstellung "Venus
achterna: Sterrenkundigen op expeditie in 1874". Die Ausstellung
dokumentiert die niederlaendische Venusexpedition von 1874 von den Anfaengen
bis zur abschliessenden Entscheidung, zum Transit 1882 keine Expedition mehr
zu entsenden. Die niederlaendische Expedition hatte die Insel Reunion im
Indischen Ozean zum Ziel, und die Ausstellung illustriert auch die Probleme
und Gefahren, die mit einer solchen Expedition verbunden waren. Es werden
die von der niederlaendischen Expedition verwendeten Instrumente (aus den
Sammlungen des Universitaetsmuseum Utrecht, des Museum Boerhaave und des
Teylers Museum), aber auch Dokumente und Aufzeichnungen aus verschiedenen
niederlaendischen Archiven gezeigt.
Das Museum "Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh" ist Teil des Universitaetsmuseums
Utrecht und wird zur Zeit neu eingerichtet. Neben der Sonderausstellung zum
Venusdurchgang wird auch eine neue, permanente Ausstellung zur
Meridianastronomie in Utrecht und ab Herbst kommenden Jahres auch zwei
Ausstellungen zur Meteorologie (Buys-Ballot) und Sonnenphysik (Minnaert)
gezeigt. Am 8. Juni 2004 wird es eine "Venusparty" mit
Beobachtungsmoeglichkeiten geben.
Die Oeffnungszeiten des Museums sind Dienstag bis Freitag 11:00 bis 17:00
Uhr und Sonntag 13:00 bis 16:00 Uhr. Fuehrungen und Beobachtungsabende
koennen im Voraus gebucht werden.
Anschrift:
Museum Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh
Zonnenburg 2
3512 NL Utrecht
Niederlande
Tel.: 030-2302818 (Mo - Fr 9.30 - 16.00)
Fax: 030-2334992
E-mail: info@sonnenborgh.nl
Weitere Informationen: www.sonnenborgh.nl
[Mitgeteilt von Klaus Staubermann.]
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Item 3 EMA Nr. 66, 22. Nov. 2003
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International Conference: Zdenek Kopal's Binary Star Legacy
-----------------------------------------------------------
(Aus: Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy, No. 53,
November 17, 2003, Item 3)
First Announcement of an International Conference:
ZDENEK KOPAL'S BINARY STAR LEGACY
Litomysl, Bohemia, Czech Republic
31 March to 3 April 2004
On the occasion of the 90th birthday of late Professor Zdenek Kopal a
conference will be held from March 31 to April 3, 2004 in the estates of
the castle of the Bohemian town of Litomysl, where Zdenek Kopal was born.
MEETING ORGANIZERS
* Astronomical Institute of Charles University, Prague
* Astronomical Institute of Academy of Science, Ondrejov
* Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno
* B.R.N.O. - Variable Star Section of the Czech Astronomical Society
The international conference is especially dedicated to remind the
achievements of a great astronomer, but will also aim at more general
aspects of contemporary binary star astronomy.
PROGRAM TOPICS:
1. Introductory session
- Appreciation of Kopal's work
- Reminiscences and fellows' views of a great astronomer
2. Binary star morphology
3. Mathematical physics and numerical modelling
INVITED SPEAKERS of the Introductory Session (preliminary list):
1. Introductory Session
A. Batten: Digging Foundations for the Royal Road
E. Budding: A fellow's view of Kopal's
royal road to binary stars
A. M. Cherepashchuk: Atmospheric Eclipses in Wolf-Rayet Binaries:
from Kopal and Shapley to Present Days
M. Kitamura: Reminiscences of a Japanese contemporary
(For invited speakers of the other sessions see the web site indicated
below.)
SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (SOC):
Alan Batten Dominion Astrophysics Observatory,
Victoria, Canada
Dmitrij V. Bisikalo Inst. of Astronomy, Russian Academy of
Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Edwin Budding CIT/Carter Observatory, Wellington,
New Zealand
Osman Demircan Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University,
Canakkale, Turkey
Horst Drechsel (chair) Dr. Remeis Observatory, Astron. Institute,
Univ. Erlangen-Nuernberg, Bamberg, Germany
Petr Hadrava Astron. Institute Ondrejov,
Academy of Sciences of CZ
Pavel Mayer Astronomical Institute, Charles University,
Prague, CZ
Zdenek Mikulasek Inst. of Theoretical Physics and
Astrophys., Masaryk University, Brno, CZ
Izold Pustylnik Tartu Observatory, Estonia
Nikolaj N. Samus Institute of Astronomy, Russian Academy
of Sciences; Sternberg Astronomical Inst.,
Moscow, Russia
Dimitar Sasselov Harvard University, Dept. of Astronomy, USA
Augustin Skopal Astron. Institute, Tatranska Lomnica,
Academy of Sciences, Slovak Republic
Robert Wilson Astronomy Dept., University of Florida, USA
Marek Wolf Astronomical Institute, Charles University,
Prague, CZ
Miloslav Zejda N. Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium,
Brno, CZ
LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC):
Miloslav Zejda (chair), Miroslav Broz, Petr Hajek, Ondrej Pejcha
(BRNO-VSS), Eva Piknova, Michaela Severova (Litomysl), Jan Janik (FS MU)
The organizers can look back to a more than 40 years lasting period of
continued observational and publication activities in the field of variable
star research, on an almost equally long tradition of holding national
conferences (mainly in Brno), and a 20 years history of international
contacts. While previous variable star meetings were held at Brno
Planetarium, this conference in honour of Prof. Kopal will exceptionally
take place at the castle of the marvelous Bohemian town of Litomysl,
Kopal's birth place. The organizers hope that the meeting will not only
help to remind Zdenek Kopal as an esteemed colleague and outstanding
astronomer, but will also serve to present new aspects and trends in binary
star research and as a forum for discussion among astronomers from many
countries.
CONTACT ADDRESS:
M. Zejda: N. Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium,
Kravi hora 2, 61600 Brno, CZ
Phone: 420 541321287, fax 420 541233389
WWW: http://var.astro.cz/kopal
E-mail: H. Drechsel (SOC): drechsel@sternwarte.uni-erlangen.de
M. Zejda (LOC): zejda@hvezdarna.cz
DEADLINES:
Early registration: 15 February 2004
Late registration: 15 March 2004
Abstracts: 29 February 2004
Proceedings: 1 October 2004
MEETING SITE:
The East Bohemian town of Litomysl emerged in the 13th century on the site
of an older fortified settlement on the Trstenice path - an important
trading route linking Bohemia and Moravia. The dominant feature of Litomysl
is the monumental Renaissance castle dating from the years 1568-1581. The
buildings of the castle precincts are not only exceptional for their
architectural refinement, but have also inscribed themselves in history as
the birth place of the Czech national composer, Bedrich Smetana. On the
elongated square, which is one of the largest in the Czech Republic, a town
hall of Gothic origin and a series of Renaissance and baroque houses are
found, many of them with arcades and vaulted groundfloor rooms. One of the
most important of these is the House At the Knights (U Rytiru) with its
remarkable facade. In the past the town was also a significant religious
centre; it was in Litomysl in 1344 that the second bishopric to be
established in Bohemia was founded. The cultural traditions of the town go
much beyond regional and national frontiers. The exquisite interiors of the
castle, especially the baroque castle theatre, the amphitheatre in the
castle park and Smetana's house, all offer varied programmes of concerts
and theatrical performances and thus enrich the life of the town throughout
the year. Litomysl came to public notice in a political context as well: in
1994 the meeting of the seven Central European presidents took place at the
castle, and in 1995 the Spanish royal couple visited the town. The chateau
complex was included in the UNESCO list of cultural monuments 1999.
Litomysl was awarded the title "Historical town of the year 2000".
(for more information see www.litomysl.cz)
PAPERS:
Working language is English.
The Proceedings will be published as a special issue of the Kluwer journal
Astrophysics & Space Science, which was founded by Kopal. If you are
interested in presenting a paper please submit your abstract before
February 29, 2004. Abstracts received after this deadline will not be
included in the booklet of abstracts to be distributed at the beginning of
the conference.
REGISTRATION:
The registration fee is 130 EUR, late registration fee 160 EUR, and reduced
fee for accompanying person is 35 EUR. The full registration fee includes
coffee, admission to party, excursion, concert, abstract booklet, and a
copy of the proceedings. The reduced registration fee will only cover
admission to conference sessions and concert, and coffee.
Early registration deadline is 15 February 2004. The ultimate deadline for
acceptance of conference applications will be March 15.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
The organisers have only very limited possibility to support a few
participants. We will do our best to help you in any respect if necessary.
You can send your request to the LOC.
TRAVEL INFORMATION:
Litomysl is located 150 km away from Prague, 85 km from Brno, 50 km from
Hradec Kralove. You can use busses from Prague or Brno or (international)
trains to Ceska Trebova, and from there local trains or busses to Litomysl.
For a map of the Czech Republic see http://www.mapy.cz .
We look forward to meeting you in Litomysl in Spring 2004.
Miloslav Zejda Horst Drechsel
chairperson of LOC chairperson of SOC
Other events:
Saturday-Sunday Congress of the Czech Astronomical Society
3-4-Apr Public lessons
Sunday 11:00 Unveiling of a tablet at Kopal's house
4-Apr
More information and a Conference Application Form are available at
http://var.astro.cz/kopal
[Source: http://var.astro.cz/kopal/announce.txt, abbreviated here]
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Item 4 EMA Nr. 66, 22. Nov. 2003
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Symposium "Fotografie und Wissenschaft"
---------------------------------------
Das 40. Symposium der Gesellschaft fuer Wissenschaftsgeschichte e.V. wird
am 22. Mai 2004 in Jena stattfinden. Es soll Gelegenheit zu einer
kritischen Sichtung der fotografischen Wissensermittlung und
Wissenschaftsvermittlung im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert bieten. Das neue Medium
Fotografie hat offensichtlich eine Neubestimmung des Verhaeltnisses von
Sehbarem und Zeigbarem zu dem Sagbaren erforderlich gemacht.
Wissenschaftsmethodologisch geht es um die Frage nach einer exakten
Repraesentation der zu untersuchenden Sache sowie um das rechte Verhaeltnis
von Bild und Text. Wissenschaftshistorisch geht es um die sich wandelnden
Antworten auf diese Fragen in unterschiedlichen Zusammenhaengen und
Zeitraeumen.
Kontakte:
Prof. Dr. Mitchell Ash, Institut fuer Geschichte, Universitaet Wien,
Dr. Karl Lueger Ring 1, A-1010 Wien, E-Mail: mitchell.ash@univie.ac.at
oder
Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel, Lehrstuhl fuer Wissenschaftsgeschichte,
Institut fuer Philosophie, Universitaet Regensburg,
Universitaetsstrasse 31, D-93040 Regensburg,
E-Mail: christoph.meinel@psk.uni-regensburg.de
[Quellen und weitere Informationen:
Gesellschaft fuer Wissenschaftsgeschichte e.V., Berichte zur
Wissenschaftsgeschichte 26 (2003), 235-236;
http://www.uni-regensburg.de/Fakultaeten/phil_Fak_I/Philosophie/
Wissenschaftsgeschichte/GWG/GWG_1.htm]
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Item 5 EMA Nr. 66, 22. Nov. 2003
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Conference "Horoscopes and History"
-----------------------------------
The subdepartment History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents is
pleased to announce a conference entitled "Horoscopes and History" that
will take place at the University of Amsterdam from 26-28 July 2004. The
conference will bring together leading scholars in the history of
astrology, among them D. Blume, J.-P. Boudet, N. Campion, P. Curry, St.
Heilen, J. H. Holden, W. Huebner, R. Plantiko, P. Schiller, St. van den
Broecke, and R. Zoller. The conference is open to a wider public and the
organizers highly appreciate a broad reception.
In this conference, the general theme "Horoscopes and History" will be
approached from several perspectives:
"Horoscopes as historical sources" addresses the methodological question of
how the study of nativities can enrich historical research. Horoscopes can
be regarded as a highly specialized genre of historical narrative that
needs to be applied by historians in a different way than other source
material. How can horoscopes be scrutinized in order to understand and
reconstruct historical events?
Horoscopes as astronomical sources discusses the underlying astronomical
parameters of nativities. Any astrological interpretation relies on
astronomical data, from which certain techniques for predicting the
development of the native and future events have been derived. How can
these parameters be deduced and interpreted and how are they employed for
specific astrological techniques and calculations?
"Horoscopes as rhetoric device" considers the role of horoscopes in
political and public discourse. The publication of imperial nativities, the
use of horoscopes by representatives of higher social orders, or the public
debate about the horoscopes of religious leaders are significant elements
in claims of superiority over political and religious opponents.
"Horoscopes and biographical narrative" is closely related to the other
approaches but stresses the role of horoscopes for constructing coherent
and meaningful individual biographies. From the fifteenth through the
twentieth century nativities were used as powerful means for biographical
"emplotment" and the formation of identities.
Given the wide spectrum of source material, the conference is not limited
to one specific period in the history of Western culture. The aim is rather
to systematically explore the role of horoscopes in historical research and
to apply these methodological considerations to concrete case studies and
different contexts.
The conference fee will be EUR 20.00 to cover the costs for catering etc.
People who are interested in participating are kindly requested to contact
Kocku von Stuckrad.
Organizers:
Dr. phil. habil. Kocku von Stuckrad
University of Amsterdam,
History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents
Oude Turfmarkt 147
NL - 1012 GC Amsterdam
E-Mail: c.k.m.vonstuckrad@uva.nl
Dr. phil. habil. Guenther Oestmann
E-Mail: oestmann@nord-com.net
More information: www.amsterdamhermetica.com
[Text provided by Guenther Oestmann.]
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Item 6 EMA Nr. 66, 22. Nov. 2003
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XXIII Scientific Instrument Symposium
-------------------------------------
(Aus: Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy, No. 53,
November 17, 2003, Item 4)
The XXIII Scientific Instrument Symposium (SIS 2004) of the International
Union of the History of Science will be held in Dresden, capital of the
State of Saxony, Germany, September 6 - 11, 2004.
Registration will take place in the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon (MPS)
in the Baroque Zwinger, and the conference sessions will be held in the
re-built Palace and in the city's Technical Collections.
The symposium hotel is located within a ten-minutes' walk from the Zwinger,
the Palace, and the historic city center. Coffee and tea as well as
arrangements for lunch will be provided.
The symposium is open for all studies touching on historic scientific
instruments. SIC members are invited to organize sessions on particular
themes.
The following proposals for sessions have been received:
- Suzanne Debarbat: Instruments for Weights and Measures
(e-mail: suzanne.debarbat@obspm.fr)
- Roland Wittje: Acoustics: On the Threshhold Between Scientific and
Musical Instruments (working title)
(e-mail: roland.wittje@phys.ntnu.no)
- Peter Plassmeyer: Central European Instruments of the 16th-18th
Centuries
(e-mail: peterplassmeyer@web.de)
- Sven Dupre and Michael Korey, Scientific Instruments in Kunstkammer
and Court Collections
(e-mail: m.korey@web.de and sven.dupre@ugent.be)
Preliminary Program:
Monday, Sept. 6th Afternoon: Registration, reception, and exclusive
viewing in the MPS
Tuesday, Sept. 7th Morning and Afternoon: Sessions
Wednesday, Sept. 8th Morning and Afternoon: Sessions, Poster session
Thursday, Sept. 9th Morning: Viewing of the Dresden university collections
Afternoon: Sessions
17:00 Plenary meeting SIC
19:00 Conference Dinner
(Steamboat cruise on the Elbe River to the summer palace at Pillnitz)
Friday, Sept. 10th Excursions to severals significant (and largely unknown)
collections in Saxony are planned, including Freiberg and Waldenburg,
Goerlitz and Bautzen. (Details will appear on the registration form.)
Saturday, Sept. 11th Morning: Sessions possible
All day: A visit to several museums in Dresden is planned, including the
Gruenes Gewoelbe, the Ruestkammer, and the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum.
(Details to be provided.)
Contact address:
SIS 2004
Dresden State Art Collections
Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon
Zwinger
D-01067 Dresden, Germany
TEL. +49 (0) 351 4914 -661
FAX. +49 (0) 351 4914 -666
e-mail: info@sis2004-dresden.de
More information:
http://www.sis2004-dresden.de
http://www.dresden.de
http://www.skd-dresden.de
[Source: http://www.sis2004-dresden.de]
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Danksagung
----------
Fuer die direkte Zusendung von Informationen danken wir Guenther Oestmann
und Klaus Staubermann.
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Impressum
---------
Elektronische Mitteilungen zur Astronomiegeschichte (EMA)
Herausgegeben vom Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte in der Astronomischen
Gesellschaft
Redaktion: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick und Dr. Hilmar
W. Duerbeck
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Preis: 1,- Euro/Ausgabe zzgl. Versandkosten
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Bezug: Einsendung von 1,50 Euro (Einzelheft) oder 3,- Euro (Nr. 20-21) 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:
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Vorsitzender: Prof. Dr. Peter Brosche, Observatorium Hoher List der
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Fax: +49(0)6592 985140, e-mail: pbrosche@astro.uni-bonn.de
Sekretaer: Dr. Wolfgang R. Dick, Vogelsang 35 A, D-14478 Potsdam,
e-mail: wdick@astrohist.org
Spendenkonto der Arbeitskreises Astronomiegeschichte:
Empfaenger: Astronomische Gesellschaft, Konto-Nr.: 310 330 402,
Volksbank Coesfeld-Duelmen, BLZ 401 631 23
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BLZ 200 100 20
Einzahlungen auf letzteres Konto bitte mit Vermerk
"Fuer Arbeitskreis Astronomiegeschichte".
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