SHA Meetings in 2016

SHA Meetings in 2016

Meetings in 2016 will be posted as details are received.

  1. The Spring Conference will held with the William Herschel Society on Saturday 2 April 2016 at the Elwin Room, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution 16-18 Queen Square, Bath, BA1 2HN

Draft conference programme

2. The Summer Picnic will be held on Saturday 2 April SHA Summer at Hanwell Community Observatory, near Banbury in North Oxfordshire.

Click below for more details on the venue

Hanwell Community Observatory

3. The Annual General Meeting & Autumn Conference will be held at the Birmingham & Midlands Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BS on Saturday 29 October

AGM/Autumn Conference Programme

SHA LIBRARY UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

SHA LIBRARY
‘UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT’
The SHA Library at the BMI (December 2015)
At the 2015 Autumn Conference / AGM, James
Dawson was elected as Librarian (and Councillor) of
the SHA and Carolyn Bedwell as Assistant Librarian.
They have taken up the reins from Stuart Williams to
continue sorting through the hundreds of books left to
the Society by the late Gilbert Satterthwaite and
Madeline Cox. By re-arranging existing items in the
library the new team has managed to clear the decks,
hoping this will encourage visitors to the library in the
New Year.
James is planning to compile a list of books which are
not needed for the library collection and which will be
sold on, preferentially to SHA members. James hopes
to be able to circulate this list by email early in the New
Year.
There is still much work to be done in the library,
cataloguing the new books and other materials, and
eventually integrating these into the existing collection.
A more detailed account of this project will appear in
the SHA Bulletin in due course. For any questions
about the SHA’s Library, please do contact James:
library@shastro.org.uk
The SHA’s Library will be open on the following
dates, between the times stipulated. If there are other
dates you are interested in visiting the library, or
alternative times on the dates below please contact
James Dawson the Librarian. If you are planning a visit
to the library please also contact James in case there is
severe weather and either the BMI is closed or the
library staff are unable to travel to the library.
Mon 11 Jan, Thu 4 Feb, Sat 13 Feb, Thu 3 Mar 2016
(10 am – 3 pm)

The old University Observatory at Cambridge now houses the Library of the Institute of Astronomy - and the SHA Archive

SHA Archive Listing Updated

The old University Observatory at Cambridge now houses the Library of the Institute of Astronomy - and the SHA Archive

The old University Observatory at Cambridge now houses the Library of the Institute of Astronomy – and the SHA Archive

The latest listing of the SHA Archive, which is run by our Archivist Mark Hurn and stored under his care at the Institute of Astronomy Library, University of Cambridge, has now been uploaded to the Archive page of this website, where it can be downloaded in pdf form.

Also on the page you will find further details of the Archive.

Please see: SHA Archive page

 

SHA members study in the Sir Robert Ball Library, BMI

SHA Acting Librarian appointed and Library page updated

SHA members study in the Sir Robert Ball Library, BMI

SHA members study in the Sir Robert Ball Library, BMI

We would like to advise SHA members and others that, following the passing of our Chairman and Head Librarian Madeline Cox, FRAS (pictured at rear, above), in January, the Council of the SHA has appointed an Acting Librarian, Stuart Williams, to manage the SHA’s Sir Robert Ball Library at the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Stuart was the founding Secretary of the SHA and later its Research Librarian (amongst other things). He has almost thirty years experience working in a borough archives and local studies library.

His first task is to undertake a Review of the Library Service, during which the lending service will be suspended.

Accordingly, the Library page on the SHA’s website has been revised and updated, please see:

http://www.shastro.org.uk/library/

If you have any enquiries about the Sir Robert Ball Library, please contact Stuart Williams by email to: library@shastro.org.uk

A past SHA publicity stand

SHA Publicity on the road…

A past SHA publicity stand

SHA mobile publicity stand

The SHA is often represented at astronomical events organised by other groups.

Events during autumn 2014 at which the SHA was represented with a publicity stall included:

  • The FAS Convention and AGM on 11 October 2014 (at the University of Birmingham)
  • The Leeds Astromeet on 8 November 2014 (at the Clothworkers Hall, University of Leeds)

Both events were very successful and the FAS Convention was a particularly timely opportunity to promote the SHA Autumn Conference, also in Birmingham.

We had originally intended to cover Starfest IV in Colchester on 1 November 2014, but the event was cancelled.

Forthcoming astro-events at which we hope to be present include:

  • Cambridge Institute of Astronomy open-day on 21 March 2015 (an excellent family day out,by the way!).
  • The Webb Society Convention (IoA, Cambridge) on 20 June 2015.

If you are an SHA member and will be at these events or live in the area and could spare an hour or two to help on our stall, it would be much appreciated.

For further information or offers of help, please contact the Publicity Officer, Mike Leggett (leggett189@btinternet.com).

A new tri-part full-colour SHA publicity leaflet is currently in production.

 

From the SHA e-News
National Maritime Museum

Feast of Astro-History at Greenwich

Stellar line-up for joint SHA–BAA Spring Conference 28 March

National Maritime Museum

National Maritime Museum

The 2015 Spring Conference of the Society for the History of Astronomy will take the form of a joint event with the History Section of the British Astronomical Association.

It will be on Saturday 28 March 2015 at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, and promises to be a memorable event.

Giving the Alan Cox/David Dewhirst Memorial Lecture will be William Sheehan, renowned US author of many books on the history of astronomy—including the recently published Galactic Encounters—who will speak on the history of Mars exploration. Sheehan has also edited and brought to press Patrick Moore’s translation of Camille Flammarion’s 1892 classic, The Planet Mars and is currently working on an update of his own authoritative 1996 work on Mars.

Stuart Clark, widely read astronomy journalist and author of the highly successful Sky’s Dark Labyrinth Trilogy, will be talking about the subject of his acclaimed biography The Sun Kings— Richard Carrington and the 1859 Solar Flare.

The US astrophysicist and historian of astronomy, Prof. Jay Pasachoff, fresh back from observing the March 2015 solar eclipse, will take us back to sixteenth century astronomy as he speaks about the seminal discoveries of Galileo Galilei and Simon Marius, in relation to the Moon and Jupiter’s satellites. Jay is the Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy at Williams College, Massachusetts, and is responsible for a number of general astronomy textbooks, which have become popular on both sides of the Atlantic.

Anthony Kinder, former Director of the BAA Historical Section, will outline the major study that he has been undertaking into the historical membership of the BAA and the SHA.

Bob Marriott, Director of the BAA Instrument & Imaging Section, will tell the fascinating story of the father-and-son astronomers, William Dawes and the Rev. William Rutter Dawes.

There will also be a presentation on behalf of Roger Jones, Co-ordinator of the SHA’s Survey of Astronomical History, which will describe the unique record of British and Irish astronomy across the centuries that is contained in the rapidly expanding SHA on-line survey.  Roger is, sadly, now expected to be unable to attend for health reasons.

For full details please see our Meetings page.

 

From the SHA e-News
Dr Allan Chapman (picture by Stuart Williams)

Royal Astronomical Society honours SHA President

Dr Allan Chapman (picture by Stuart Williams)

Dr Allan Chapman (picture by Stuart Williams)

We are delighted to pass on the good news that the Royal Astronomical Society has honoured the Hon. President and co-founder of the Society for the History of Astronomy, Dr. Allan Chapman of Wadham College, University of Oxford, with one of its most prestigious awards – the Jackson-Gwilt Medal.

The Jackson-Gwilt Medal (courtesy RAS)

The Jackson-Gwilt Medal (courtesy RAS)

The Jackson-Gwilt Medal is awarded ‘…for single investigations of outstanding merit in either: the invention, improvement or development of astronomical instrumentation or techniques; achievement in observational astronomy; or in the history of astronomy’.

Dr Chapman is a renowned and highly popular historian of astronomy as well as being one of the greatest friends and supporters of the SHA.

As the Royal Astronomical Society rightly says in its press release:

“Through his extensive public lecturing, publications and television appearances he has brought astronomical history to new audiences. In doing so he has raised the profile of the history of astronomy and stimulated historical research.

“Dr Chapman’s book, The Victorian Amateur Astronomer: Independent Astronomical Research in Britain 1820-1920 is of particular note and is an essential resource for any researcher of nineteenth-century astronomy. The Victorian Amateur Astronomer identifies and honours the “grand amateurs”, a term he used to describe a group of people, seemingly unique to Britain, who made major discoveries from privately-funded observatories or who popularised astronomy among the masses.

“Allan Chapman’s in-depth research documents the work and achievements of the often self-educated assistant astronomers, many of whom were previously unknown and who did so much of the ground-work that led to published results. The era spanned by his book is of great importance to British astronomy and it puts into social context the foundation of both the Royal Astronomical Society and the British Astronomical Association.

“Dr Chapman’s work for this publication resulted in the foundation of the Society of the History of Astronomy, a society which seeks to understand the history of astronomy and the important contributions by lesser-known figures in history as well as those who are more famous.”

The foundation of the SHA came about directly as a result of conversations and correspondence between our Founding Secretary Stuart Williams and Dr. Chapman relating to the need for a local Survey of Astronomical History.

The Council of the SHA and its members send warmest congratulations to Dr. Chapman on receiving his well-deserved award.

For more information on the winners of the 2015 Royal Astronomical Society Awards, Medals and Prizes, click on the following link:

https://www.ras.org.uk/awards-and-grants/awards/2553-winners-of-the-2015-awards-medals-and-prizes#jackson-gwilt

Madeline Cox with the SHA Library display at the SHA AGM, 2011

SHA Chairman Madeline Cox passes away

4 Replies
Madeline Cox with the SHA Library display at the SHA AGM, 2011

Madeline Cox with the SHA Library display at the SHA AGM, 2011

The Society for the History of Astronomy regrets that we have to announce the passing of our Chairman, Madeline Cox, FRAS, who died in her sleep last night.

The shocking and saddening news came to us from her partner and fellow SHA member, Les Jepson, who contacted the Society’s Treasurer, Roger Hutchins.

Madeline had been a little unwell with a bronchial chesty cough since before Christmas, and yesterday her doctor prescribed antibiotics. Her brother and and wife were staying with her and Les last night at her home in Mansfield, and this morning they found that she had passed away.

Mr Jepson will keep us advised of funeral arrangements via Roger Hutchins, and we will pass on any relevant information in due course.

Madeline was one of the very first supporters of the SHA when it was founded at Wadham College, Oxford, in 2002, and as a professional librarian herself, immediately accepted the position of SHA Librarian on the SHA Council, to which she was elected unanimously.

Working with other Councillors, she went on to set up the SHA Library, including the SHA’s first postal lending library, the Sir Patrick Moore Library, which is now part of the society’s Sir Robert Ball Library at the Birmingham & Midland Institute, the place where we meet every October for our Autumn Conference and AGM.

In later years she oversaw the growing SHA library service as Head Librarian and did a great deal to catalogue, document and promote its collections to members and beyond.

Madeline was a strong-minded, highly intelligent and enthusiastic member of Council, always with a sense of humour and a common sense approach, and when our second Chairman, the late Gilbert Satterthwaite, decided to stand down after years of service in 2010, she also took on the challenge of the Chairmanship, in which she proved herself equally capable.

By her enthusiasm and initiatives, and the pleasure she showed in meeting and dealing with members, she has provided splendid leadership.

The SHA Council plans to compile and publish a suitable obituary for Madeline, and any recollections, appreciation, and anecdotes of her will be most welcome; please email them to our Vice-Chairman kevinkilburn@sky.com or to Roger Hutchins roger.hutchins@btinternet.com

Any brief comments or tributes to Madeline are also welcome using the comments facility below – thank you.

The Council of the SHA

A past SHA publicity stand

SHA publicity on the road

A past SHA publicity stand

A past SHA publicity stand

We are planning to publicise the SHA with a stall at the following events:

If you will be at these events or live in the area and could spare an hour or two to help on the stall, it would be much appreciated.

For further information or offers of help, contact the Publicity Officer, Mike Leggett (leggett189@btinternet.com).

From the SHA eNews Oct. 2014
Research

SHA Small Research Grants

Research

SHA Small Research Grants are now available for the period 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2015 and applications are solicited. These grants are made available to provide limited financial support for members’ research.

For 2014/15 a total sum of £1000 has been set aside to provide research grants and members may submit applications for up to this amount.

Grants may be used to support research in any aspect of the history of astronomy, broadly understood, and may be used to fund any expenses incurred while pursuing such a research project. The grants are available only to SHA members in good standing.

Links to the application form and regulations for applicants are available on the Grants page of this website. Applications must be made using the application form. Appended to the regulations are some guidelines for completing the case for support that forms part of every application.

Applications will be judged by the SHA Awards Committee whose decision is final.

Successful applicants should note that items claimed for reimbursement must be accompanied by receipts to the full value of the item.

Completed applications should be sent to the SHA Chairman, Madeline Cox (chair@shastro.org.uk), preferably by e-mail, or if this is not practical, by post to: 4, Rutland Close, Warsop, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG20 0DY, UK.

From the SHA eNews Oct. 2014