Talks
Medieval Historians in Conversation
An event which brings together bestselling authors Dan Jones, Helen Castor, Helen Carr, Caroline Burt and Richard Partington together in conversation discussing their recent books as well as the process of writing history and all things medieval.
Amanda J. Smith
Two and a Half Centuries of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Cambridge by Gerry Gilmore and Gudrun Tausch-Pebody
Tue 23 July 2024
Institute of Astronomy
The University Observatory in Cambridge opened in 1823, after 50 years of effort. Key figures in establishing the Observatory, the first non-College Cambridge department, included young mathematical astronomers – George Peacock, John Herschel, and Charles Babbage. Over the next century, the focus was optical positional astronomy, generating star catalogues. Controversy included the discovery of Neptune (not in Cambridge) while unsung stories include the 20-year career of the second (after Caroline Herschel) woman employed as a night-time astronomy observer - one among many locally unrecognized women who worked in Cambridge astronomy and later earned international recognition in their fields. We will tell some of their stories.
In the 20th century, a long impressively complex and somewhat underhand campaign led to “astrophysics” in Cambridge. The 1909 Chair of Astrophysics was established. 1913 brought a major reorganization, the Astrophysics Chair being endowed and meteorology formalized. The Solar Physics Observatory was transferred from London, establishing “astrophysics” in Cambridge. Meteorological science saw the appointment of C.T.R. Wilson as Observer in Meteorological Physics. Arthur Eddington succeeded George Darwin as Plumian Professor, in principle employed in dynamical astronomy with little support, in fact delivering astrophysics and the 1919 eclipse. By 1946 key positions were vacant, the two Observatories were combined into one by the University, and the Plumian Chair moved to DAMTP. In 1958 Fred Hoyle became Plumian, establishing, in 1967, IOTA, the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy. In 1972 the merger of the (combined) University Observatories with IOTA created the Institute of Astronomy.
Throughout this history, there have been many interesting personalities, some devious stories, and many impressive scientific advances. We will introduce a few to give a flavour of these.
Cost: Free event
Enquiries and booking
Please note that booking is required for this event.
Enquiries: Institute of Astronomy Website