Reflections on the Astronomy of Glasgow

A story of some 500 years

Häftad, Engelska, 2013

AvDavid Clarke,University of Glasgow) Clarke, David (Honorary Research Fellow

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How Astronomy contributed to the educational enlightenment of Glasgow, to its society and to its commerceThe words ‘Astronomy’ and ‘Glasgow’ seem an incongruous juxtaposition, and yet the two are closely linked over 500 years of history. This is a tale of enlightenment and scientific progress at both institutional and public levels. Combined with the ambitions of civic commerce, it is a story populated with noteworthy personalities and intense rivalries.It is remarkable to realise that the first Astronomy teaching in the Glasgow 'Colledge' presented an Earth-centred Universe, prior to the Copernican revolution of the mid sixteenth Century. Glasgow was later known astronomically for the telescope observations of sunspots made by Wilson in the 1760s, but less well known are the ideas related to mono-chromaticity within light, to dew point and hoar frost, and Herschel’s discovery of infra-red energy in solar radiation by application of Glasgow-made thermometers.This engrossing and entertaining scientific history includes the story of Glasgow’s ‘Big Bang’ of 1863, the controversy over ‘Astronomer Royal for Scotland’ and a historical survey of the eight observatories that once populated Glasgow. David Clarke brings us a complex weave of science and accompanying social history in this unique and fascinating work. Key Features:A comprehensive narrative of 500+ years of Glasgow’s connections with Astronomy, the story being unique and non-comparable with any other city around the worldContributions made to Astronomy directly by Glasgow University, and new ideas developed there and picked up by others outside its walls are relatedProvides short biographies of colourful contributors to the Astronomical scene in GlasgowPresents the history, architecture and structures of eight Glasgow observatoriesGives insight on social aspects of Astronomy within Glasgow, its relationships with commerce, and the upsurge of interests in Astronomy by the general public

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2013-05-24
Mått156 x 234 x 19 mm
Vikt685 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor336
FörlagEdinburgh University Press
ISBN9780748678907

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David Clarke is a Practical Astronomer and has worked around the world on optical telescopes and on space missions such as Skylab and Pioneer 10. His main focus is Astronomical Polarimetry, having designed instruments to study scattering processes within stellar atmospheres, the interstellar medium and the Earth’s atmosphere. Spending most of his career within Glasgow University in Education and Research as Observatory Director, his energies have now turned to exploring historical themes.

Chapter 1 -- Glasgow Astronomy Chapter 2 -- Some Early Astronomy Chapter 3 -- Establishing Astronomy Chapter 4 -- The Wilsons Chapter 5 -- The Early Nineteenth CenturyChapter 6 -- A Professor of Eloquence Chapter 7 -- The Glory of Glasgow Chapter 8 -- Time is of the Essence Chapter 9 -- The Turn of The Century Chapter 10 -- The Astronomical Society of Glasgow Chapter 11 -- University Gardens Chapter 12 -- To The New Millennium List of Figures [Including acknowledgements, etc.] General Index Full contents:Table of ContentsPreface ixChapter 1: Glasgow Astronomy 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 The Influence of the University 5 1.3 The Early Syllabus 12 1.4 Glasgow University Library 18 1.5 Glasgow University Hunterian Museum 19 1.6 A Clannish People 20References to Chapter 1 21Appendix  Hunterian Museum Artifacts 29 Chapter 2: Some Early Astronomy 35 2.1 A Mathematical Professor 35 2.2 Hydrostatics and the Diving Bell 37 2.3 Sinclair the Practical Natural Philosopher 41 2.3.1 Latitude Determination 42 2.3.2 The Great Comet of 1680 45 2.3.3 Astronomy and Navigation 47 2.3.4 The Barometer 48 2.3.5 Other Texts 50 2.4 The Turn of the Century 53 2.5 Early Time Keeping 54References to Chapter 2 55Chapter 3: Establishing Astronomy 653.1 Experimental Philosophy 65 3.2 Early Astronomical Equipment 67 3.3 The Macfarlane Bequest 68 3.4 James Watt 74 3.5 The Regius Chair of Practical Astronomy 80 3.6 The MacFarlane Observatory 84References to Chapter 3 92Chapter 4: The Wilsons 99 4.1 Introduction 99 4.2 Alexander Wilson -- The Early Years 99 4.3 Alexander Wilson the Astronomer108 4.4 Transit of Venus111 4.5 Observations of Sunspots114 4.6 Solar Motion and Universal Gravity120 4.7 A Cold Winter123 4.8 Alexander Wilson  Conclusion123 4.9 Patrick Wilson126 4.10 Investigations of Dew Point131 4.11 A Friendship with William Herschel133 4.12 Meteors and Meterorites138References to Chapter 4143 Chapter 5: The Early Nineteenth Century157 5.1 Introduction157 5.2 William Meikleham157 5.3 James Couper162 5.4 Garnethill Observatory166 5.5 Fulton's Orrery176 5.6 Conclusion178References to Chapter 5179 Chapter 6: A Professor of Eloquence187 6.1 Introduction187 6.2 The Horselethill Observatory196 6.3 Equipment Expansion206 6.4 The Ertel Transit Telescope210 6.5 Meteorology213 6.6 Horselethill under Nichol216 6.7 Nichol's Books224 6.8 ConclusionReferences to Chapter 6227Chapter 7: The Glory of Glasgow241 7.1 Professor Robert Grant241 7.2 Observing at Horselethill253 7.3 Meteorological Observations257 7.4 Some General Astronomy259 7.4.1 The Observatory259 7.4.2 The Ochtertyre Refractor260 7.4.3 Telescopic Observations264 7.4.4 Meteor Showers266 7.5 The Glasgow Star Catalogue269 7.6 Professor Grant's Legacy274References to Chapter 7276 Chapter 8: Time is of the Essence287 8.1 Introduction287 8.2 The Broomielaw Time-Ball289 8.3 The Distribution of Time301 8.3.1 Professor Grant's Remit301 8.3.2 Glasgow's Big Bang of 1863302 8.3.3 The Distribution of Regular Time335 8.4 Duncan McGregor & Co.343 8.5 Other Architectural Artefacts345References to Chapter 8346 Chapter 9: The Turn of The Century355 9.1 The Appointment of Professor Becker355 9.2 Early Years at Glasgow357 9.3 Research Frustrations361 9.4 The Best of a Bad Job365 9.5 World War I366 9.6 The Later Years368 9.7 Astronomy Teaching370References to Chapter 9375 Chapter 10: The Astronomical Society of Glasgow383 10.1 Early Days383 10.2 Other Glasgow Activities384 10.3 The Scottish Branch385 10.4 The ASG391References to Chapter 10395 Chapter 11: University Gardens399 11.1 Introduction399 11.2 The Cambridge Years40011.3 The Glasgow Years404 11.4 Neptune Again408 11.5 The University's Refractor409References to Chapter 11 Chapter 12: To The New Millennium425 12.1 Introduction425 12.2 The Years under Professor Sweet427 12.3 Celestial Mechanics431 12.4 The Garscube Observatory433 12.4.1 Stellar Polarimetry437 12.5 Solar, Stellar and Laboratory Plasma Physics439 12.6 The New Physics and Astronomy Department442 12.7 The Glasgow Science Centre445 12.8 Conclusion446References to Chapter 12447 List of Figures457