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The report I mentioned below by Siguenza states that he observed this 1691 eclipse and that he used his observation to estimate the longitude of Mexico City. Siguenza is described as a polymath and early Mexican astronomer (I'll send the reference later). He had access to an almanac which predicted this eclipse and was prepared for the observation. Luckily for him, the path of totality went over him. I wonder if Dee's example is the same eclipse? Sent from my iPad On Mar 28, 2011, at 4:00 PM, Dee Longenbaugh <[email protected]> wrote: > This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the > whole list) > o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + > > At least one, if not all three, groups should be able to tell me more. Years > ago I read that the astronomers in Seville, Spain were very excited because a > coming eclipse there and in Mexico would enable them to be more precise in > measuring the distance between the two points. This led to the West Coast of > North America running due east and west rather than north-south. > This not being my field in the tiniest, perhaps, in addition to the date, > someone can elaborate and correct my errors. > Thank you. > Dee > > Dee Longenbaugh > The Observatory, ABAA > 299 North Franklin Street > Juneau, Alaska, 99801 > www.observatorybooks.com > [email protected] > Since 1977 > Alaska specialists >> Lichen on the rock ignores a nearby lightning strike, and so it is >> with cartographers. > B.E.W. Allen > > On Mar 28, 2011, at 9:05 AM, Michael Zeiler wrote: > >> This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the >> whole list) >> o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + >> >> Thank you for your research into this intriguing map. >> >> I've had correspondences with a number of persons on the solar eclipse >> mailing list, map history mailing list, and history of astronomy >> mailing list. This problem needs to be considered from these three >> perspectives. >> >> One lead that is intriguing to me is a report by Carlos de Siguenza y >> Gongora, an astronomer of this period who witnessed the 1691 eclipse >> in Mexico city and gives a description similar to and consistent with >> the map text on the map dated 1688. >> >> Unfortunately, I am extremely busy with a work assignment today and >> tomorrow and don't have time to work on this problem. I will be free >> on Wednesday and I'll summarize the various lines of evidence for all >> three mailing lists. >> >> If there are further insights, please submit them and on Wednesday >> I'll summarize the evidence (with links) and potential arguments as >> best I can to sort out this confusing map. >> >> best regards, Michael Zeiler >> >> On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Diaz, Carlos <[email protected]> wrote: >>> This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the >>> whole list) >>> o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + >>> >>> An "oidor" (literally "listener") is a judge. Manuel de Segura was a judge >>> for the Audiencia of Guadalajara. There is a 1764 reference to Segura in >>> the History of Turmeque (written in Spanish) found at: >>> >>> http://www.freewebs.com/turmeque/historiadeturmequ.htm >>> >>> Information about the Audiencia of Guadalajara >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Audiencia_of_Guadalajara >>> >>> >>> However, this particular Manuel de Segura lived in the 18th century and is >>> from Argentina. >>> >>> >>> Carlos A. Diaz >>> Daniel J. Evans Library >>> The Evergreen State College >>> Olympia, Washington >>> [email protected] >>> >>> >>> ---------- >>> >>> There is however an indication on the map that it could in fact date from >>> the last decade of the 17th century: the text at the top says that the map >>> was made "Por orden de S.M.N. el Sº Virrey de la Nueva España Dº. Gaspar de >>> la Cerda Silva y Mendoza..." >>> >>> Gaspar de la Cerda was viceroy of New Spain between November 1688 and >>> February 1696. He faced several revolts, most notably in 1692. (see a quite >>> long biography in Wikipedia) >>> >>> The text on the map mentions revolts ("...los indios facieron muchos >>> desacatos y mal (...) y se amotinan..."), which is consistent with the >>> traumatic events endured by Gaspar de la Cerda. The text implies that the >>> eclipse was the ultimate cause of these revolts. >>> >>> There are two other persons cited on the map, in the text at the bottom >>> left corner: Manuel de Segura, "oidor" of the Audiencia of Guadalajara; and >>> Captain Nernasio (?) de Siguenza. If someone could provide biographic >>> information on these two men then the date of the map could be established >>> quite firmly. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Luis A. Robles Macías >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On >>> Behalf Of Luis Robles Macías >>> Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 10:32 AM >>> To: Discussion group for map history >>> Subject: Re: [MapHist] Re: Website of historical solar eclipse maps >>> andmystery of early Mexican eclipse map >>> >>> This is a MapHist list message (when you hit 'reply' you're replying to the >>> whole list) o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + o + >>> o + o + o + >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography >>> hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. >>> The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of >>> the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of >>> Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for >>> the views of the author. >>> List Information: http://www.maphist.nl >>> >>> Maphist mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography >> hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. >> The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of >> the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of >> Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for >> the views of the author. >> List Information: http://www.maphist.nl >> >> Maphist mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist > > _______________________________________________ > MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography > hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. > The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of > the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of > Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for > the views of the author. > List Information: http://www.maphist.nl > > Maphist mailing list > [email protected] > http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist _______________________________________________ MapHist: E-mail discussion group on the history of cartography hosted by the Faculty of Geosciences, University of Utrecht. The statements and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Utrecht. The University of Utrecht does not take any responsibility for the views of the author. List Information: http://www.maphist.nl Maphist mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.geo.uu.nl/mailman/listinfo/maphist
