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RAS Library and Archives

@astrolibrarian.bsky.social

We look after the astronomy and geophysics collections in the library and archive of the Royal Astronomical Society. https://ras.ac.uk/library

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RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · last mo.

An interesting space weather detective story drawing on historical records at @royalastrosoc.bsky.social @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social and BT Group!

Prof Jim Wild@jim-wild.bsky.social · 2mo ago

🚨New paper alert🚨 So excited that this space weather detective story has been published in Space Weather! 🔍 The story begins with a question about whether or not the delay to a Victorian express train reported in Nature (1871) was the earliest recorded impact of space weather on human tech? 🚂☀️

📷 A vintage photograph of the steam locomotive "Snake" built by the Haigh Foundry for the Great Western Railway, re-named "Exe" while working on the South Devon Railway between 1846 and 1851 (via Wikipedia)
RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 3mo ago

These original negatives of the 1875 eclipse, loaned to us by the Royal Society, have now been returned. We are grateful to the @royalsociety.org for not fining us!

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 3mo ago

While we count down to this evening's eclipse, let's step back in time more than 150 years to one in 1875... 😎 We rediscovered some photographic glass plates of that eclipse, made during a Royal Society expedition to Siam [Thailand], which will now be returned to our old neighbours. ⤵️

RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 8mo ago

On #WorldBookDay here is the first printed edition of Euclid's 'Elements' (1482). There is also a connection with William Morris - the printer, Erhard Ratdolt, was an innovative printer whose designs influenced Morris's approach to typographical arts.

The first page or 'incipit' of the 1482 printed edition of Euclid's elements. The page is decorated with a three-sided woodcut border, featuring intertwined foliage and vines, and it's been hand-coloured in crimson, blue, indigo, brown and ochre pigment. The right hand margin of the page features diagrams of rectangles, triangles and divided circles.
The Society of Antiquaries of London@antiquaries.bsky.social · 8mo ago

For #WorldBookDay we're highlighting one of William Morris’s calligraphic manuscripts on Icelandic sagas. Pictured here, unfinished, is his translation of Egil’s Saga. Egil's Saga is an Icelandic saga on the lives of the clan of Egil Skallagrímsson, an Icelandic farmer, viking and skald (poet).

The first page of the translated saga, with floral motifs as decoration in the margins.
RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Dr Allan Chapman was a great friend to the RAS Library and very generous with his knowledge - we will miss him.

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 9mo ago

We are saddened to hear of the passing of astronomical historian Dr Allan Chapman – remembered as "extraordinarily erudite" and an "indomitable spirit" by those who knew him – following his death aged 79. Read more about his life at: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

Historian Dr Allan Chapman, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, with his wife Rachel (left), in 1982 (right) and giving a lecture at the Liverpool Astronomical Society (inset).
RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The web image used for the meeting on machine learning in solid earth science shows seismicity at Campi Flegrei volcanic field in Naples, Italy. Meeting delegates also had the chance to see Athanasius Kircher's engraving of this area from his 1638 visit in 'Mundus subterraneus' (1678).

An engraving of the Campi Flegrei (the Phlegraean Fields) in Athanasius Kircher's book 'Mundus subterraneus' (1678). The Jesuit priest and polymath Kircher visited Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei in 1638 and described and illustrated the region in this engraving, which looks east across the landscape towards the town of Pozzuoli and the craters and cinder cones which feature in this region, such as Monte Nuovo, which emerged after the earthquake of 1538. Kircher illustrates smoke and gas erupting from vents in the ground. The picture is labelled in the lower right hand corner as 'Fori vulcani sive Camporum Phlegreiorum Typus'.A group of ten people (meeting delegates for a solid earth geophysics meeting) standing behind a desk in the library of the Royal Astronomical Society. On the desk is a very large book placed on a book support (a bean bag). The book is open to show an engraving of Mount Vesuvius. The book is Mundus Subterraneus (1678) puglished by Athanasius Kircher. In it he recorded his observations of natural phenomena like volcanic activity in the region of Naples, which he visited in 1638, and put forward his explanations for earthquakes, eruptions, tides etc.
Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Want to hear about how AI is revolutionising emergency responses to earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions? 🤖 🫨 🌊 🌋 There's still time to book a place at our Specialist Discussion Meeting on the topic this Friday. 🗣️🎟️ Scan the code on the graphic for more info!

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 10mo ago

The Agnes Mary Clerke Medal, awarded every three years to an individual who has achieved outstanding personal research into the history of astronomy or geophysics, goes to Prof Clemency Montelle, of the University of Canterbury, NZ. She said she was "delighted and honoured" to receive the prize. ⤵️

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RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 2y ago

Amazing #histastro acquisition of a rare catalogue annotated by Flamsteed himself! Congratulations to @jasonwdean.com and the Linda Hall Library.

Jason W. Dean@jasonwdean.com · 2y ago

We've acquired an annotated copy of Flamsteed's "Historia Coelestis," 1712! 1 of 4 incomplete copies comprised of the parts he objected to, this copy is the only one known w/ corrections by Flamsteed + Crothswait! #HistSci 📜 📚 #histSTM #astronomy #histastro 🗃️🔭 www.lindahall.org/about/news/n...

The Linnean Society of London@linneansociety.bsky.social · 2y ago

This #InternationalWomensDay, watch our fascinating talk from Gem Toes-Crichton on her visual research exploring pioneering women in botany. She features Elizabeth Blackwell, Anna Atkins, and the 1994 winner of our Jill Smythies prize, Rosemary Wise. Watch: www.youtube.com/watc... #IWD2025

Interstices | The Hidden Histories of Women in Botany

“Individual contributions are all too often forgotten, overshadowed, or never acknowledged; lost in the gaps among objects.” - Professor Stephen A. Harris, Druce Curator of Oxford University Herbaria. (Adapted from the foreword to Gem Toes-Crichton’s book.)” In this talk, Gem Toes-Crichton shares h

youtube.com

Rebekah Higgitt@rhiggitt.bsky.social · 2y ago

See the whole thread for stories of women and (history of) astronomy for #IWD2025 - but nota bene historians of science: nominations sought for the 2026 RAS prize for historical research #histsci

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2y ago

The Agnes Mary Clerke Medal for Historical Research in Astronomy or Geophysics is awarded every three years. Nominations for the 2026 award open on 31 July. We particularly welcome nominations for wonderful women! buff.ly/BkxvE32 #IWD2025

The Agnes Mary Clerke Medal for Historical Research in Astronomy or Geophysics.
RAS Library and Archives@astrolibrarian.bsky.social · 2y ago

Thanks to @rhiggitt.bsky.social for contributing Agnes M. Clerke posts forn #IWD2025 - you can read a fuller tribute here: www.pascal-theatre.com/biographies/...

Agnes Mary Clerke 1842 – 1907 - Pascal Theatre Company

Astronomer, author, historian of astronomy. 10 February 1842 – 20 January 1907 Agnes Mary Clerke 1905 Hector Macpherson, Public domain, […]

pascal-theatre.com

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2y ago

On #IWD2025 we also remember Agnes Mary Clerke (1842-1907), after whom our medal for outstanding research into the history of astronomy or geophysics is named. Born in County Cork, Clerke was a remarkable woman who left a legacy both as an astronomer and historian of astronomy.

Agnes Mary Clerke.
Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2y ago

As women gained increasing access to education in the late 1900s, they played an influential role in institutions like Liverpool Astronomical Society, which was founded in 1881. Seven of 49 members depicted in an 1888 multiple portrait photograph were women.

Seven women members of the Liverpool Astronomical Society in an 1888 photograph.
CSIRO Publishing@csiropublishing.bsky.social · 2y ago

Ahead of #WomensDay tomorrow, we spoke with historian Toner Stevenson who recently co-authored an #OpenAccess article in Historical Records of Australian Science about gender diversity in Australian astronomy. blog.publish.csiro.au/gender-diver... #HistoricalRecordsAS #IWD #WomenInSTEM

"The Job Is Not Done": Gender diversity in Australian astronomy - CSIRO PUBLISHING

Toner Stevenson, author of an open access research article in Historical Records of Australian Science, sheds light on the challenges faced by women in astronomy between 1966-2023.

blog.publish.csiro.au