The Society for the History of Astronomy is an organisation based in the United Kingdom that promotes research into the history of astronomy. It publishes a research journal called ''The Antiquarian Astronomer'' and a regular ''Bulletin''.

The society

The Society for the History of Astronomy was founded in 2002 to promote the study of the history of astronomy by hosting talks by members and publishing new research into the field. One main objective was to encourage research into past astronomers who have previously been neglected within the history of science. Some of its members are professional historians of science but most are amateur historians. The honorary president is Dr Allan Chapman of

Wadham College Wadham College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located in the centre of Oxford, at the intersection of Broad Street and Parks Road. Wadham College was founded in 1610 by Dorothy W ...

, Oxford. The honorary vice-presidents are Emily Winterburn (who was chair at the time of foundation) and Prof. Mike Edmunds. Previous vice-presidents have included

Sir Patrick Moore Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore (; 4 March 1923 – 9 December 2012) was an English amateur astronomer who attained prominence in that field as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter. Moore was president of the Brit ...

, Sir Arnold Wolfendale, FRS, and Dr Michael Hoskin. The society hosts several one-day conferences at venues across the United Kingdom each year. A ''Bulletin'' is published twice yearly containing articles and news items about astronomical history. The Bulletin includes short reports of original research by members. The society maintains a library of publications of importance to the history of the science. The reference section is named for Sir Robert Ball and the lending section is named for Sir

Patrick Moore Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore (; 4 March 1923 – 9 December 2012) was an English amateur astronomer who attained prominence in that field as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter. Moore was president of the Brit ...

. The library is located at the

Birmingham and Midland Institute , mottoeng = Endless Learning , established = 1854 by Act of Parliament , city = Birmingham , province = West Midlands , country = United Kingdom , president = Sir David Cannadine , vice_president = Dr Serena Trowbridge, Sami ...

in central Birmingham. The archives of the society are preserved at the library of the

Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge The Institute of Astronomy (IoA) is the largest of the three astronomy departments in the University of Cambridge, and one of the largest astronomy sites in the United Kingdom. Around 180 academics, postdocs, visitors and assistant staff work a ...

Survey of Astronomical History

One of the society's major activities is organising a Survey of Astronomical History in the form of lists of historical astronomers and observatories in each of the old counties of Britain and Ireland. This has been motivated by a desire to promote research into local astronomical activities that have previously been neglected.

''The Antiquarian Astronomer''

The society publishes annually a refereed journal called ''The Antiquarian Astronomer'' containing new research into the history of astronomy, particularly articles written by members. Published papers have discussed activities in major observatories, scientific research by individuals of particular note, scientific instrument makers, and the activities of prominent amateur astronomers. The first issue appeared in 2004, and issue 10 was published in 2016. Back issues are indexed in the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS), and the ADS contains scans of all articles published during the period 2004–2016. Its current editor is

Ian Ridpath Ian William Ridpath (born 1 May 1947, in Ilford, Essex) is an England, English science writer and broadcaster best known as a popularizer of astronomy and a biographer of constellation history. As a UFO sceptic, he investigated and explained th ...

''Society for the History of Astronomy Bulletin''

The society publishes an bi-annual ''Bulletin'' containing news relating to the study of the history of astronomy and the organisation's activities. The ''Bulletin'' also includes short research articles and notes by members. It was previously called ''News'' (editions 1–4, 2002–2004) and ''Newsletter'' (editions 5–17, 2004–2008). Articles are indexed in the SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System but scans are not currently available. Digital versions are available online for some editions. The current editors are Carolyn Kennett and Len Adam.

Chairs

Picnics

One feature of this society is an annual summer picnic. Past picnics have been held at:- 5 July 2003

Wadham College, Oxford Wadham College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located in the centre of Oxford, at the intersection of Broad Street and Parks Road. Wadham College was founded in 1610 by Dorothy W ...

3 July 2004

Woolsthorpe Manor Woolsthorpe Manor in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, near Grantham, Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the so ...

6 August 2005

8 July 2006 ‘Farthings’, Selsey 16 June 2007 Pendrell Hall, Staffordshire 2 August 2008

Marlborough College Marlborough College is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English Independent school (United Kingdom), independent boarding school) for pupils aged 13 to 18 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England. Founded in 1843 for the sons of Church ...

, Wiltshire 4 July 2009 Hanwell Community Observatory 17 July 2010

Stonyhurst College Stonyhurst College is a co-educational Catholic Church, Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Society of Jesus, Jesuit tradition, on the Stonyhurst, Stonyhurst Estate, Lancashire, England. It occupies a Grade I listed building. Th ...

16 July 2011 Orwell Park, Suffolk 9 June 2012 Carr House, Much Hoole 29 June 2013 Mill Hill Observatory 12 July 2014

National Maritime Museum The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is a maritime museum in Greenwich, London. It is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a network of museums in the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. Like other publicly funded national museums in the United ...

, Greenwich 4 July 2015

2 July 2016 Hanwell Community Observatory 1 July 2017

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

City Centre 30 June 2018 Seething Observatory, Norwich 29 June 2019

Norman Lockyer Observatory The Norman Lockyer Observatory, the Lockyer Technology Centre, and the Planetarium (jointly NLO), is a public access optical observatory east of Sidmouth, East Devon in South West England. It houses a number of historical optical telescopes, in ...

, Sidmouth, Devon 2020 and 2021 no picnic held 25 June 2022 19 New King Street, Bath (to coincide with the bi-centenary of the death of

William Herschel Frederick William Herschel (; german: Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel; 15 November 1738 – 25 August 1822) was a German-born British astronomer and composer. He frequently collaborated with his younger sister and fellow astronomer Caroline H ...

)

References

External links

Society for the History of Astronomy – Official Website

Survey of Astronomical History
of Britain and Ireland
Astrophysics Data System index to ''The Antiquarian Astronomer'' with scans

Astrophysics Data System index to the ''Newsletter'' and ''Bulletin''

Digital archive of the ''Newsletter'' and ''Bulletin''
{{Authority control British astronomy organisations Learned societies of the United Kingdom Organizations established in 2002 2002 establishments in the United Kingdom History of science organizations Historical societies of the United Kingdom