Instrumental changes in astronomy - collection of antique instruments to be cataloged by Adler Planetarium in 1993 - Cover Story

Science News, Dec 19, 1992 by Janet Raloff

Similarly, he argues, Julius Schiller's 1627 Coelum Stellatum Christianurn marks the growing political influence of the church. Scandalized by science's use of heathen gods to coordinate relationships among celestial bodies, writers of this text offered a biblical reinterpretation of the traditional constellations. Eridanus, "the River," for example, was renamed Transitus Israel and said to show the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.

Since becoming the Adler Planetarium's director in July 1991, Paul Knappenberger has been helping to shape a new, long-range strategy for the institution. One aspect includes plans for "historically evocative" exhibits focusing on the antiques, notes Adler curator Liba Taub. These settings will demonstrate not only how the instruments were used at home or in the lab, she says, but also how the science these artifacts represent reflects humanity's changing conception of its place in the universe. Taub hopes to develop special-interest groups among scholars by sponsoring symposia, colloquia, and workshops focusing on the collection over the next few years.

"Ours is one of the three outstanding collections [of antique instruments] in the world," Knappenberger says. And neither of its European counterparts - in Oxford, England, and Florence, Italy-"is as accessible to the public or interpreted in this social and cultural way," he asserts.

The biggest challenge, Knappenberger foresees, "is how to continue to grow the collection." Its oldest artifact, a brick depicting Leo the Lion with stars imprinted on his body, dates to 2000 B.C. The Adler's oldest instrument is an Arabian astrolabe from 1131 A.D. Few items are less than 100 years old. "Should we be collecting newer pieces?" Knappenberger asks. If so, what kinds? "These are the kinds of things we must wrestle with over the next few years."