Hi Tony and all, There was an excellent article on "Beijing Ancient Observatory" in the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 1994, Vol 88, pages 24 to 38. My original copy did not survive the trip to the coast but a pdf scan is available on Harvard/NASA "ADS Abstract Service" Try this link. http://adsbit.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-iarticle_query?bibcode=1994JRASC..88.. .24C
I would recommend an excellent book on the survey of the meridian to establish the meter, "The Measure of All Things" by Ken Alder ISBN 0-7432-1675-x. It covers the survey of the meridian in France during the revolutionary turmoil and Napoleonic wars. It will remind you of the discussion we had some years ago on this list on the difference between accuracy and precision. I am glad that when you are half asleep you catch more than most people wide awake! Cheers, Roger Bailey M 48.6 W 123.4 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of tony moss Sent: February 3, 2004 12:07 PM To: Sundial Mail List Subject: Re: Was I half asleep? Hi Chuck, > >In regards to the magnificent old Chinese astronomical instruments, I picked >up a book in Hong Kong called Heavenly Creations, Gems of Ancient Chinese >Invention, produced by the Hong Kong Museum of History, 1998. This book has >photographs and descriptions of some of the instruments that may have been >featured on the History Channel program. >From your descriptions I'd say these have a strong possibility of being the instruments featured although the Jesuits did get a mention. If there isn't a website showing these fine creations then there certainly should be. Tony M. - -
