FRIENDS LECTURE: Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Nevil Maskelyne and the projects of 18th century astronomy
Dr Rebekah Higgitt
Focusing on the career and connections of the Fifth Astronomer Royal, Nevil Maskelyne, this talk will look at what astronomy was for in the 18th century. From his early voyage to St Helena to his long years at Greenwich, Maskelyne was an internationally significant figure who was involved with all the key astronomical projects of his time. The talk will be illustrated with images of instruments at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and archives of the Board of Longitude and the Maskelyne family, recently made available at Cambridge Digital Library.
Dr Rebekah Higgitt (University of Kent) is a historian of science who specialises in the relationship between science and the public in 18th and 19th century Britain.
The talk will be followed by a wine reception in the Library.