Tag Archives: Astronomy

370 BC: Numberless Democrituses Like Himself

Posted on January 26, 2020 by corvusfugit

The pre-Socratic philosopher Democritus (c. 460 – c. 370 BC) believed in an infinite universe, and therefore in an infinite number of worlds. Some might be bigger or smaller than earth, he concluded; some might have more moons or suns, … Continue reading →

1750: Estimate

Posted on December 9, 2019 by corvusfugit

In 1750, astronomer Thomas Wright estimated the number of inhabited planets in the observable universe: Of…habitable Worlds, such as the Earth, all which we may suppose to be also of a terrestrial or terraqueous Nature, and filled with Beings of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 18th Century, Astronomy, Books, Great Britain, Printmaking, Science, Thomas Wright | Leave a comment

1966: I Am Your Greatest Fan

Posted on January 21, 2019 by corvusfugit

I grew up in musical theater. To me, the highlight and the epitome of my life as a singer and actor and a dancer/choreographer was to star on Broadway. And as my popularity grew once [Star Trek] was on … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1960's, 20th Century, African-Americans, Astronomy, Civil Rights, Martin Luther King Jr., Nichelle Nichols, Photography, Portraits, Science Fiction, Television, USA, Women, Yousuf Karsh | Leave a comment

1973: First Strike in Space

Posted on December 30, 2018 by corvusfugit

On December 28, 1973, the crew of Skylab 4 went on strike, shutting off radio communications with NASA ground control to protest their grueling working conditions. The three astronauts—Gerald Carr, William Pogue, and Edward Gibson—left Earth on November 16, 1973, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1970's, 20th Century, Astronomy, Aviation, Edward Gibson, Gerald Carr, Labor, Strikes, USA, William Pogue | Leave a comment

1978: The Far Side of the Moon

Posted on December 4, 2018 by corvusfugit

Desiree E. Stuart-Alexander: Geologic map of the central far side of the Moon (1978) [detail]; full map here. (source)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1970's, 20th Century, Astronomy, Desiree E. Stuart-Alexander, Geology, Maps, The Moon, USA, Women | Leave a comment

1969: On the Moon

Posted on April 28, 2018 by corvusfugit

Thomas Schmagmeier made this map of the Apollo 11 landing site overlaid on a soccer field to give a sense of scale to the distances traveled by the astronauts. He also made a baseball version. (These are revised versions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1960's, 20th Century, Astronomy, Maps, Sports, The Moon, Thomas Schmagmeier, USA | Leave a comment

1898: The Moon

Posted on April 28, 2018 by corvusfugit

This model of the moon—made of 116 sections of plaster on a framework of wood and metal—was prepared by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt for the Field Columbian Museum in Chicago; the museum was located on the grounds of the World’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1890's, 19th Century, Astronomy, Chicago, Germany, Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt, Miniatures, Museums, The Moon, USA | Leave a comment

1666: Too Stars Fighting

Posted on January 24, 2018 by corvusfugit

In the same moneth [September, 1666] was seen a strange prodigy near us, Grace Butler my near neighbour that saw it told me of it, togather with several of James Brookesbankes family, it was too stars fighting, they struck violently … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 17th Century, 2010's, 21st Century, Art, Astronomy, Ben Bromley, Books, Great Britain, Oddities, Oliver Heywood, Painting | Leave a comment

1846: The System According to the Holy Scriptures

Posted on December 10, 2017 by corvusfugit

The Muggletonians were a radical Protestant sect that originated in the seventeenth century when London tailors John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton announced themselves as the prophets foretold in the Book of Revelation. Along with Diggers, Ranters, and Levellers, Muggletonians comprised … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 17th Century, 1840's, 19th Century, Astronomy, Books, Christianity, English Civil War, Great Britain, Isaac Frost, Muggletonians, Printmaking, Religion, The Moon, The Sun | Leave a comment

1844: The Bridge of Infinities

Posted on December 8, 2017 by corvusfugit

J. J. Grandville: The Bridge of Infinities, an illustration from Un Autre Monde (1844)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1840's, 19th Century, Astronomy, Books, France, J J Grandville, Printmaking, Science Fiction | 1 Comment