|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
newbie
|
OP
newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25 |
As a professional astronomer, I had always thought that the astronomical orrery had been _invented_ by Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery, but today's AWAD corrected this impression; it prompted me to do some quick research, which showed that he only commissioned its construction. My impression had come from the fact that, as a Corkonian, I was aware that the peerage of Orrery was based in Co. Cork, along with the peerage of Cork itself. Both were held by the Boyle family in the 17th Century; and this made Charles Boyle of Orrery a cousin of Robert Boyle, son of the Earl of Cork. And who is Robert Boyle? He's only the Father of Chemistry! http://understandingscience.ucc.ie/pages/sci_robertboyle.htmSo I had put 2 and 2 together and made 5. If Boyle cousin #1 was the father of chemistry, surely Boyle cousin #2 had invented this astronomical model, making a dynasty of early Anglo-Irish scientists (even better, Anglo- Munster scientists). Not quite.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
newbie
|
|
OP
newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25 |
BTW, if you don't get the Munster reference, let me explain it thus: there's a guy who goes to Munster rugby matches with a banner proclaiming "Irish by birth; Munster by the grace of God". It's nice to be Irish, even better to be from that province of Ireland called Munster - including the Boyles' stomping ground of Cork.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,944 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,944 Likes: 3 |
As a descendant of Cormac Carthy I get the Munster reference.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956 |
Munster undeniably one of the worlds great rugby clubs
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
So I had put 2 and 2 together and made 5.
Sometimes that's the right answer.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Thank you for this beautiful image you added to your first post. These 18-19th century scientifical models are often so beautfiful. I give in return the Harrison clocks : LinkI'm not scientific enough to understand it but impressed enough to admire it.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
Last edited by Buffalo Shrdlu; 06/02/10 12:40 PM.
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Wooohoeeeoo!! Mighty crowded!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25
newbie
|
|
OP
newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 25 |
David, thanks for the links to Fullton's orrery! It's a remarkable piece of clockwork. It looks like it's fully up to date for its era (1830s), as it includes the "new" discoveries of Uranus, several asteroids, and the moons of the outer planets. Neptune wasn't discovered until the 1840s, but you can imagine Fullton's frustration if he thought he'd completed his masterpiece, only to learn that yet another new asteroid, moon or planet had been discovered! Rather like Blackadder's mischievous coining of "new" words like "contrafibularity" when Dr. Johnson announces that he has finally completed his Dictionary of the English language! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOSYiT2iG08
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,810
Members9,187
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
458
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
