| Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope 1820-1831: The Founding of a Colonial Observatory Incorporating a Biography of Fearon Fallows 1995 Edition Contributor(s): Warner, Brian (Author) |
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ISBN: 0792335279 ISBN-13: 9780792335276 Publisher: Springer OUR PRICE: $104.49 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: June 1995 Annotation: The Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, was the first major astronomical observatory in the southern hemisphere, and this volume presents a comprehensive account of its origin, construction and use. It describes technical aspects, such as the instruments and their makers, the installation of the instruments and their initial problems. The difficulties of founding a scientific institution in a remote colony are also detailed. There is a biography of the Cambridge-trained mathematician Fearon Fallows, the Observatory's first Director. The architecture, building methods and construction techniques are analyzed. There is also a wealth of detail on the social aspects of life in Cape Town in the 1820s, touching on slavery and ecclesiastical matters. The book is unusual in the emphasis it gives to the human side of astronomy. Audience: Historians of science, astronomers and historians, particularly of early 19th century South Africa. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Nature | Star Observation - Science | Astronomy - Political Science | History & Theory - General |
| Dewey: 522.196 |
| LCCN: 95017562 |
| Physical Information: 0.63" H x 6.14" W x 9.21" (1.18 lbs) 240 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This book, which has been in the making for some eighteen years, would never have begun were it not for Dr. David Dewhirst in 1976 kindly having shown the author a packet of papers in the archives of the Cambridge Obser- vatories. These letters and miscellaneous papers of Fearon Fallows sparked an interest in the history of the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope which, after the diversion of producing several books on later phases of the Observatory, has finally resulted in a detailed study of the origin and first years of the Observatory's life. Publication of this book coincides with the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Royal Observatory, e.G.H. Observatories are built for the use of astronomers. They are built through astronomers, architects, engineers and contractors acting in concert (if not always in harmony). They are constructed, with whatever techniques and skills are available, from bricks, stones and mortar; but their construction may take a toll of personal relationships, patience, and flesh and blood. |