Title

• Women and the Practice and Popularization of Astronomy in the Enlightenment: Lessons from an Unpublished Manuscript by Cassini de Thury

Abstract

• In this talk, I will examine an unpublished manuscript by Cassini de Thury (1714-1784), titled Dialogue on Astronomy, which is to be found in the Paris Observatory archives, and of which I have prepared a commented edition (yet to be published). Composed around 1740, this document purportedly is a sequel to Fontenelle’s famous Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds, but upon closer inspection it reveals itself to be much more interesting. The manuscript in fact provides a fascinating insight into practical and geometry astronomy as it is pursued at the Paris Observatory around that time. It is a treatise on the role of precision in astronomy and the figure of the Earth debate. It also helps us to explore the place of amateurs, especially women, in the practice of astronomy.

Selected References

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Contact

david.aubin@imj-prg.fr