BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME;VALUE=TEXT:Tangible Things of American Astronomy, or What Does a Computer Have in Common with a Teapot? PRODID:-//Harvard events data//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:event_1296125_0 SUMMARY:Tangible Things of American Astronomy, or What Does a Computer Have in Common with a Teapot? DESCRIPTION:

 

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.

Livestreaming

This event will be livestreamed on the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture Facebook page.

A recording of this program will be available on our YouTube channel approximately three weeks after the lecture.

 
LOCATION:Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTART:20180306T230000Z DTEND:20180307T010000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR