The University of Edinburgh

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The University of Edinburgh School of Physics
General Interest Seminars
OPEN LECTURE
Lord Crawford's Astronomy Library
Professor Owen Gingerich Harvard University
The Crawford collection is arguably the world's
greatest collection of astronomical books. Gifted
to the nation in 1888 by the 26th Earl of
Crawford, it is housed at the Royal Observatory
Edinburgh. The collection comprises some 15,000
items, including most of the great astronomical
texts of the 15th and 16th centuries. Several of
these are annotated by other leading scientists
of the time, revealing unique insights to the
development of modern astronomy. Owen Gingerich
is Emeritus Professor of Astronomy and History of
Science at Harvard University. He is the world's
leading authority on 17th-century German
astronomer Johannes Kepler and on Nicholas
Copernicus, the 16th- century cosmologist who
proposed the heliocentric system. He is author of
over 600 scientific papers and some 20
books. This public lecture will give the history
of the Collection and discuss some of the special
treasures to be found there.
5pm Thursday 25th October 2007 Main Lecture
Theatre Michael Swann Building The King's
Buildings, University of Edinburgh Coffee/Tea
Doughnuts will be served in the foyer from 4.45pm