Reflections on the Astronomy of Glasgow: A story of some 500 years

by David Clarke

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780748678907
Publisher:	Edinburgh University Press
Publication date:	05/24/2013
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

David Clarke is Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow

Table of Contents

Preface vii

1 Glasgow Astronomy 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 The Influence of the University 4

1.3 The Early Syllabus 10

1.4 Glasgow University Library 17

1.5 Glasgow University Hunterian Museum 19

1.6 A Clannish People 20

Appendix - Hunterian Museum Artefacts (GLAHM) 20

References 22

2 Some Early Astronomy 26

2.1 A Mathematical Professor 26

2.2 Hydrostatics and the Diving Bell 27

2.3 Sinclair the Practical Natural Philosopher 31

2.3.1 Determining Latitude 31

2.3.2 The Great Comet of 1680 33

2.3.3 Astronomy and Navigation 35

2.3.4 The Barometer 37

2.3.5 Other Texts 38

2.4 The Turn of the Century 41

2.5 Early Timekeeping 43

References 45

3 Establishing Astronomy 48

3.1 Experimental Philosophy 48

3.2 Early Astronomical Equipment 49

3.3 The Macfarlane Bequest 50

3.4 James Watt 57

3.5 The Regius Chair of Practical Astronomy 61

3.6 The Macfarlane Observatory 63

References 73

4 The Wilsons 77

4.1 Introduction 77

4.2 Alexander Wilson - The Early Years 77

4.3 Alexander Wilson the Astronomer 84

4.4 Transit of Venus 86

4.5 Observations of Sunspots 89

4.6 Solar Motion and Universal Gravity 94

4.7 A Cold Winter 98

4.8 Alexander Wilson - Conclusion 98

4.9 Patrick Wilson 100

4.10 Investigating Dew Point 103

4.11 A Friendship with William Herschel 106

4.12 Meteors and Meteorites 110

References 114

5 The Early Nineteenth Century 120

5.1 Introduction 120

5.2 William Meikleham 120

5.3 James Couper 124

5.4 Garnethill Observatory 126

5.5 Fulton's Orrery 139

5.6 Conclusion 140

References 141

6 A Professor of Eloquence 144

6.1 Introduction 144

6.2 The Horselethill Observatory 152

6.3 Equipment Expansion 161

6.4 The Ertel Transit Telescope 165

6.5 Meteorology 169

6.6 Horselethill under Nichol 170

6.7 Nichol's Books 172

6.8 Conclusion 180

References 182

7 The Glory of Glasgow 187

7.1 Professor Robert Grant 187

7.2 Observing at Horselethill 196

7.3 Meteorological Observations 200

7.4 Some General Astronomy 202

7.4.1 The Observatory 202

7.4.2 The Ochtertyre Refractor 203

7.4.3 Telescopic Observations 207

7.4.4 Meteor Showers 208

7.5 The Glasgow Star Catalogue 209

7.6 Professor Grant's Legacy 216

References 217

8 Time is of the Essence 221

8.1 Introduction 221

8.2 The Broomielaw Time-Ball 222

8.3 The Distribution of Time 232

8.3.1 Professor Grant's Remit 232

8.3.2 Glasgow's Big Bang of 1863 233

8.3.3 The Distribution of Regular Time 260

8.4 Duncan McGregor & Co. 265

8.5 Other Architectural Artefacts 268

References 270

9 The Turn of the Century 273

9.1 The Appointment of Professor Becker 273

9.2 Early Years at Glasgow 275

9.3 Research Frustrations 279

9.4 The Best of a Bad Job 284

9.5 World War I 285

9.6 The Later Years 287

9.7 Astronomy Teaching 289

References 296

10 The Astronomical Society of Glasgow 299

10.1 Early Days 299

10.2 Other Glasgow Activities 300

10.3 The Scottish Branch 301

10.4 The ASG 307

References 311

11 University Gardens 312

11.1 Introduction 312

11.2 The Cambridge Years 312

11.3 The Glasgow Years 316

11.4 Neptune Again 319

11.5 The University's Refractor 320

Appendix A Papers on Photometry based on Observations made by W. M. Smart at Cambridge University 323

Appendix B Papers on Measurements of Stellar Proper Motions based on Photographic Observations made by W. M. Smart at Cambridge University 324

Appendix C Annual Reports of the Glasgow University Observatory 326

Appendix D Books Written by Professor W. M. Smart while at the Universities of Cambridge and Glasgow 327

References 327

12 To the New Millennium 330

12.1 Introduction 330

12.2 The Years under Professor Sweet 332

12.3 Celestial Mechanics 334

12.4 The Garscube Observatory 335

12.4.1 Stellar Polarimetry 341

12.5 Solar, Stellar and Laboratory Plasma Physics 343

12.6 The New Physics and Astronomy Department 346

12.7 The Glasgow Science Centre 350

12.8 Conclusion 350

Appendix - Proceedings of the Glasgow Observatory and Reports of the Department 351

References 352

List of Figures 355

List of Colour Plates 366

Index 367

Editorial Reviews

The detail is often fascinating, and rearly irrelevant, and I can recommend the book strongly.

The Observatory Magazine, Volume 134, No 1240. - Robert Cannon Smith