A Window into the Astronomical Past

A recent donation of astronomical charts and books to the UTA Libraries Special Collections Department provides a window into the past for researchers. The donation totals 40 celestial charts dating from the 1740s as well as seven books and atlases on astronomy dating from 1548 to 1805. 

Ben Huseman, Cartographic Archivist with Special Collections and Archives, stated that the charts and books cover several different subjects related to astronomy, such as the moon and the constellations. He noted that by looking at the charts and books, people could see how much knowledge has progressed. 

“What is interesting about these charts is that they are post-Copernicus, and some of the earlier material already in the collection is pre-Copernicus,” Ben said. “Prior to the acceptance of Copernicus’ theory that the earth and planets revolve around the sun, people believed that the world was the center of the cosmos, which was a theory that goes back to the ancient Greeks and earlier geographers.” 

Ben stated that while the earlier astronomers did get some information wrong, it is fascinating to see how much knowledge they got right with the limited resources at their disposal. These discoveries help inspire others to dig deeper in the quest for information about the universe. 

When looking at each of the charts, people can appreciate not only the astronomical information but also the artwork that accompanies it. 

“They (the charts) are beautifully done and in a lot of cases, the color is original. They are very old, but they have probably been hidden in drawers for many years,” Ben said. “There is a lot of beautiful material here.” 

Ben stated this donation to UTA should attract classes from the astronomy, physics, and other science departments. Already, classes on the history of science have visited the Special Collections to view and learn from these items. These items will continue to be available for people from UTA and the community to learn from and view.  

Ben expressed his thanks to Donald Sheff of New York, who made this generous donation that will be an excellent resource for students, faculty, and the public for years to come.