Skip to content
Vatican Observatory
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

Another Post About Old Science Books? Well, they’re cool!

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  1 Mar 2017

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

If you like astronomy’s history then the University of Louisville (UofL) in Louisville, Kentucky, was a good place to be this past November 5th.  On that day the Kentucky Academy of Science was holding its 102nd annual meeting.  To go along with that meeting, the Archives and Special Collections of UofL exhibited a selection of books from its William Marshall Bullitt collection of rare works in mathematics and astronomy (which happens to be featured in a recent V.O. video).  Prof. Delinda Buie of UofL and I were on hand to talk to KAS attendees.  Almost all the attendees were scientists who work in Kentucky.  Many of them were seeing these historic works of science for the first time, and were absolutely enjoying themselves.

Below is a small collection of photographs that I took during the exhibit.  Enjoy.  You can’t have too much of this stuff.

A copy of one of Albert Einstein’s works, signed by Einstein. A copy of one of Albert Einstein’s works, signed by Einstein.
Prof. Buie discussing Copernicus with KAS attendees.  Inside the case, to the left, is an original copy of Copernicus’s De Revolutionibus.  In the foreground is an original copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia, with notes written in it by Newton himself.  See below. Prof. Buie discussing Copernicus with KAS attendees.  Inside the case, to the left, is an original copy of Copernicus’s De Revolutionibus.  In the foreground is an original copy of Isaac Newton’s Principia, with notes written in it by Newton himself.  See below.

A closer photo of the Bullitt Collection’s copy of De Revolutionibus—open, of course, to the iconic diagram of the heliocentric system.  This book was printed in 1543, so it is nearly 500 years old, yet it looks “like new.”  So, readers of The Catholic Astronomer, can you read the Latin?  Many of the books in the exhibit are written in Latin, which was the international language of science for a long time. A closer photo of the Bullitt Collection’s copy of De Revolutionibus—open, of course, to the iconic diagram of the heliocentric system.  This book was printed in 1543, so it is nearly 500 years old, yet it looks “like new.”  So, readers of The Catholic Astronomer, can you read the Latin?  Many of the books in the exhibit are written in Latin, which was the international language of science for a long time.
A display case full of interesting science books. A display case full of interesting science books.
An original copy of Daniel Bernoulli’s Hydrodynamica (it is in Latin).  If you are thinking “Bernoulli’s Principle”, you are right!  An original copy of Daniel Bernoulli’s Hydrodynamica (it is in Latin).  If you are thinking “Bernoulli’s Principle”, you are right!
An original copy of Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems—Copernican and Ptolemaic (written in Italian, not in Latin). An original copy of Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems—Copernican and Ptolemaic (written in Italian, not in Latin).
Physicist and KAS attendee Chad Howard (of my own Jefferson Community & Technical College in Louisville) snapping a picture of Hydrodynamica. Physicist and KAS attendee Chad Howard (of my own Jefferson Community & Technical College in Louisville) snapping a picture of Hydrodynamica.
Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

Sacred Space Astronomy

The Vatican Observatory’s official digital community and online magazine.

Become a Member

Recent Posts

Br. Guy Consolmagno to be Awarded Honorary Degree from SUNY Geneseo

By Robert Trembley  |  21 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter – March 22

By Robert Trembley  |  20 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Bubbles on the Moon

19 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Active Volcanism on Venus

By Robert Trembley  |  19 Mar 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Archives

      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • August
      • June
      • March
      • January
      • November
      • October
      • December
      • November
      • April
      • May
      • January
      • December
      • September
      • May
      • March
      • December
      • November
      • February

More Posts by
Christopher M. Graney

Putting the Bouchet Telescope Back in Service

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  18 Mar 2023

Embryology and the Moon; Hippocrates and Monty Python

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  11 Mar 2023

Bacteria and the “Star Wars” Cantina—Oh, How Science Changes

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  4 Mar 2023

Cheap Jupiter

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  25 Feb 2023

The Day Mars is Fat

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  18 Feb 2023

Bored at the Speed of Light (re-run)

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  11 Feb 2023

View More

Newsletter

Upcoming astronomical events, scientific breakthroughs, philosophical reflections… just a few reasons to subscribe to our newsletter!

Vatican Observatory
  • About
  • Telescopes
  • Latest
  • Podcast
  • Education
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Support
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
Privacy Policy  |   Cookie Policy  |   Disclosure Statement

Podcast:

  • Apple Podcasts Listen onApple Podcasts
  • Spotify Listen onSpotify
  • Google Podcasts Listen onGoogle Podcasts
  • Stitcher Listen onStitcher
  • Amazon Alexa Listen onAmazon Alexa
  • TuneIn Listen onTuneIn
Made by Longbeard