Report to IAU Commission 41 (History of Astronomy)
covering the years 1994-97
The contributions from Canadian authors on the history of astronomy continue to be significant when it is realised that no astronomer in Canada devotes full time to historical research. Our authors have published mainly on the history of Canadian astronomy but have not restricted their work soley to this area. Representative examples of their published articles follow.
- A series of four papers appeared in the 1996 JRASC under the heading: "Extracts from the Diaries of the University of Toronto Southern Observatory." (This productive facility may soon be closed due to restricted funding.)
- Peter Broughton, author of "Looking Up - A History of The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada", has published papers in the JRASC on individuals and historical events which include: "What Brought Edmund Halley to Newfoundland?"; "The Burke-Gaffneys"; "James Craig Watson (1838-1880)".
- In the American Scientist, Dr J.D. Fernie has contributed titles such as: "Shapley-Curtis Debate on the Milky Way"; "In Pusuit of Vulcan"; "The Neptune Affair"; "The Extraordinary and Short-lived Career of Jeremiah Horrocks".
- The Canadian born astronomer, Simon Newcomb, who spent his working life in the United States, kept a detailed diary as he and his eclipse party travelled to northern Canada to view a total eclipse in July 1860. Excerpts from his diary may be found in the 1996 JRASC (Kennedy and Hanson).
- Dr A.V. Douglas was for years a highly-respected member of Commission 41. She founded the Kingston Centre of the RASC and served as Honorary President for 25 years. A paper: "Accomplishments in Astronomy: Dr A.V. Douglas (1894-1988)" (Kennedy) was presented at the 1997 General Assembly of the RASC, hosted by the Kingston Centre.
Members of Commission 41 are invited to send enquiries to me on any aspects of the above articles, or on other matters dealing with publications or the history of Canadian astronomy which may be of specific interest to them.
J.E. Kennedy
1902 - 315 5th Ave. N
Saskatoon, Sask.,
S7K 5Z8 Canada
