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February 19, 2009
Divine Sky: The Artistry of Astronomical Maps
Check out the Science Library's new web exhibit! Divine Sky: The Artistry of Astronomical Maps is a virtual exhibition of 17th, 18th and 19th century astronomical atlases, maps, charts and illustrations from the collections of the University of Michigan's Map Library and Science Library Special Collections. The exhibit offers a sampling from the library's extensive collections of historical astronomical maps. From Cellarius' Harmonia Macrocosmica of 1660, famed for its ornate engravings, to the Flamsteed atlas of 1729, a landmark of accuracy for its time, to Trouvelot's breathtaking astronomical drawings of 1882, it illustrates the evolution of celestial maps from fanciful vehicles for myth and legend to utilitarian instruments used in navigation and scientific discourse.
Divine Sky is presented by the Shapiro Science Library in coordination with the LSA Winter 2009 theme semester The Universe: Yours to Discover.
Stable link | Posted by jkglenn at 11:38 AM
February 12, 2009
Astronomy Exhibit: Watchers of the Sky
The exhibit Watchers of the Sky: Astronomy to the Invention of the Telescope, offers a rare opportunity to see many of the most significant books in the world written by early astronomers. Exhibits include a 400 year old Galileo manuscript.
Vist the exhibit in the UM Special Collections Library, 7th floor, Hatcher Graduate Libary, weekdays 10AM-5PM and Saturdays 10AM-noon, now through April 11.
Beginning with astronomers of ancient Egypt and the records they left on papyri, the exhibit will continue through watchers of the sky from the Byzantine and Middle Ages, and culminate with a manuscript by Galileo of immeasurable importance to our current understanding of the world. On this piece of paper Galileo, who had just begun to experiment with building telescopes in summer 1609, penned his suggestions of how the telescope might be useful to the Doge of Venice, and then used empty space at the bottom of the page in early 1610 to reason through his observations and conclude that he had found four objects that were orbiting Jupiter (now known as the four Galilean moons). The works are all drawn from the collections of the University of Michigan Library.
View an image of Galileo's draft letter to the Doge of Venice.
Stable link | Posted by betsywil at 11:33 AM
February 03, 2009
2nd Annual Library Photo Contest
You can submit entries to our photo contest now through February 20.
The theme is: Architecture On Campus
Interpret this theme as you like, but please include a blurb about how your photo applies to the theme!
3 winning photos will be hung in the Library.
Gift certificates will be awarded to the winners.
Email your photo(s), personal information, and description of your photo(s) to libphotocontest@umich.edu. (Maximum of 3 submissions per student, please.)
View the complete rules and submission guidelines.
Download the poster for the contest.
To see the winners from last year's contest, come to the third floor of the Shapiro Science Library. You will see the photos as you step off the elevator.
Stable link | Posted by betsywil at 10:08 AM