#  Tangible Things of American Astronomy, or What Does a Computer Have in Common with a Teapot? 

 



####  calendar\_today Date and Time 

 **March 6, 2018** 

 06:00PM - 08:00PM EST 

####  pin\_drop Location 

 **Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street**  



 

 



 

   ![Sara Schechner](/sites/g/files/omnuum6316/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/chsi/files/tangible_things_of_american_astronomy_sara_schechner.jpg?itok=ikgxcCX3) 

 

 **Free Public Lecture**

 **Sara J. Schechner**, David P. Wheatland Curator, Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University

 As a science that studies distant celestial objects, astronomy deals with few things that can be touched directly. And yet, astronomy has many tangible things—scientific instruments and observatories, for example—that link the past to the present. There is little question about maintaining things still valuable for scientific research purposes, but why should we care about documenting and preserving the old and obsolete? Sara Schechner, recipient of the 2018 LeRoy E. Doggett Prize for Historical Astronomy, will discuss what can be learned from a sundial, a tea set, some telescopes and clocks, a life mask, a rotating desk, photographs, and even fly spankers.

 Free event parking at [52 Oxford Street Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/52%20Oxford%20St.%20Garage/@42.3801916,-71.1178896,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e37740b7278721:0xc4afb229b3ca67be!8m2!3d42.3801916!4d-71.1157009?hl=en).

 **Livestreaming**

 This event will be livestreamed on the [Harvard Museums of Science & Culture Facebook page](https://hmnh.harvard.edu/www.facebook.com/harvardmuseumsofscienceandculture).

 A recording of this program will be available on our [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjjvYQF81TLWObF7RqpHIlA/feed) approximately three weeks after the lecture.

 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments Programs ](/events-type/chsi-related)
 
 

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