Michael Hoskin’s research while affiliated with University of Cambridge and other places

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Publications (124)

Harlow Shapley: The Making of an Observatory Director
  • Article

August 2016

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8 Reads

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2 Citations

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

In 1919, the long-serving director of the Harvard College Observatory died. When the ambitious Harlow Shapley heard the news, although only in his early 30s, he resolved, if possible, to succeed him. But a problem emerged: Shapley was enlisted to debate the size of the Galaxy at a Washington meeting, where his opponent would be a noted speaker who was sure to defeat Shapley in front of an audience that included several involved in the Harvard appointment. The article describes the steps Shapley took to avoid or restrict the confrontation, and how in the end Shapley managed to secure the post, in which he became an outstanding success.

William Herschels Application for a Coat of Arms

May 2016

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7 Reads

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

In 1816, William Herschel was appointed a knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order. In 1818, he applied for a coat of arms. This was because all Guelphic knights were asked to supply for display in Hanover a rectangular copper plate with their arms in coloured enamel. But this project came to nothing, and Herschel did not pursue his application. His son John was granted arms in 1838 when appointed baronet, and it is possible that the design of John’s arms was based on one of the two 1818 sketches supplied to his father.

William Herschels Russian Telescopes

February 2016

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28 Reads

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Andreas Maurer

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Vasily Belokurov

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Michael Hoskin

William Herschel made reflecting telescopes for sale throughout Europe. The second-largest was a 20-ft with a 12-in mirror commissioned by Catherine the Great of Russia for the astronomers of the St Petersburg Academy. The Academy unfortunately opted to have the mounting made locally (in which case the price was halved), but this proved beyond them. They therefore asked Herschel to supply the complete instrument. This he did but only after many delays, and as a result of turmoil both within the Academy and in the nation as a whole, the reflector was never put to use.

Serial nominations for the AWH initiative: The paradigm of seven-stone antas and beyond

August 2015

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11 Reads

Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union

Juan Antonio Belmonte

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Michael Hoskin

In this short report we examine the ideal status of the seven-stone antas (a type of very ancient megalithic monument in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula) as an excellent candidate for a serial nomination within the Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative. This case will be compared with an extraordinary set of dolmens at the other side of the Mediterranean, within the Transjordan Plateau, worthy of being protected under the umbrella of the same initiative but which are in serious danger of ‘extinction’.

Herschel Telescopes for Sale

August 2015

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14 Reads

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1 Citation

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

William Herschel supplemented his salary from the King by making reflectors for sale. The most complete statement of what he had to offer is contained in his reply to a letter written on behalf of Catherine the Great of Russia, in which the Empress was said to be interested in buying the largest reflector Herschel could supply.

Seven-Stone Antas

July 2015

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33 Reads

Michael Hoskin

The seven-stone tombs of the Alentejo region of Portugal face within the range of sunrise (and moonrise) and may have been oriented on sunrise on the day construction began.

William Herschel's Yorkshire Years

June 2015

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4 Reads

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

William Herschel, telescope-builder, observer, and pioneer of deep-sky astronomy, was a professional musician for the first half of his life. He served as a boy bandsman in the Hanoverian Guards, and then fled to England in 1757 to escape the French. We are well informed about his time as a musician in Bath (1766-1782), which culminated in his discovery of Uranus, as his sister Caroline, chronicler of the family, was with him for most of these years. But little has been known of his previous time in the north of England (1760-1766), or of why an obscure jobbing musician should have been offered a prestigious post in Bath. This article is devoted to this episode in his career.

Taula Sanctuaries of Menorca

January 2015

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48 Reads

Michael Hoskin

The Bronze Age “taula” sanctuaries of southern Menorca have well-defined orientations, and with one exception face southerly and are located with a perfect view of the southern horizon. It is likely that they were facing the Southern Cross and other stars of Centaurus, then visible from Menorca. Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, Centaurus was associated with healing, and this is a likely purpose of the taulas.

Temples of Malta

January 2015

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131 Reads

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6 Citations

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Michael Hoskin

The unique Neolithic temples of Malta have a distinctive orientation toward the range SE–SSW (except for the Mnajdra South Temple which faces E). However, the motive for this preferred direction is not clear. If the motive was astronomical, then the builders could have targeted the bright stars of the Southern Cross and Centaurus. If the opposite direction is taken, then the target could have been the temple builders’ ancestral home in Sicily and the surrounding islands. The orientation of the Mnajdra South Temple is remarkable and suggests an alignment with either sunrise midway between the solstices or the heliacal rising of the Pleiades around 3000 BC. The evidence for these alternatives is discussed.

Patterns of Orientation in the Megalithic Tombs of the Western Mediterranean

January 2015

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42 Reads

Michael Hoskin

Nearly all the Neolithic communal tombs of western Europe and the western Mediterranean have a well-defined orientation. In the west of Iberia, the great majority faced within the range of sunrise (and moonrise), while in Iberia as a whole and the west of France nearly all faced either sunrise or the sun when it had risen and was climbing in the sky. By contrast, at Fontvieille near Arles, tombs faced sunset, and along the French Mediterranean region to both east and west of Fontvieille, tombs faced either sunset or the sun when it was declining in the sky. In Sardinia, tombs faced southeasterly; by contrast, on Menorca, tombs faced southwesterly.

Citations (29)

... Historically, researchers have focused on possible connections between the orientation of the axes of passages or chambers of Iberian tombs and astronomical bodies (Senna-Martinez et al. 1997, Hoskin et al. 1998, Ruggles 1999, Hoskin 2001da Silva and Calado 2003, da Silva 2004, Silva 2013 fig. 1). ...

Reference:

Not all dolmens are oriented to the Sun. Or are they? Use of astronomical models help overturn dominant cultural-astronomy hypotheses in Iberia
Territorio, ideología y cultura material en el megalitismo de la plataforma del Mondego (Centro de Portugal).
  • Citing Conference Paper

  • January 1997

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M. Socorro López Plaza

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Michael A. Hoskin

... [8] In another temple complex on Malta, in the south temple of Mnajdra, there are indications of possible observation of the Pleiades in antiquity. [12] Other researchers assume that the semi-circular symbol is a bird barge that the people of Malta used to sail the Mediterranean at the time. The star constellations are images of the Adriatic region, the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea. ...

Reference:

The Tal-Qadi Sky Tablet
Temples of Malta
  • Citing Chapter

  • January 2015

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Michael Hoskin

... In other large-gallery dolmens in the same region, we find identical structural characteristics in terms of the higher curve on the left side of the chamber and the heterogeneity on the right side (e.g. Pozuelo 4, Alberite, and Soto; Hoskin et al., 1994;Hoskin, 2001Hoskin, , 2002Hoskin, , 2008Hoskin, , 2009González García and Belmonte, 2010). ...

Reference:

Prehistoric engineering and astronomy of the great Menga Dolmen (Málaga, Spain). A geometric and geoarchaeological analysis
Studies in Iberian Archaeoastronomy: (8) Orientations of Megalithic and Tholos Tombs of Portugal and Southwest Spain
  • Citing Article
  • Full-text available

  • February 2001

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

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[...]

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J. C. M. De La Cruz

... 27 "... afectando a totalidade da área de um modo moderado...". também para esta etapa existe uma orientação da esmagadora maioria dos monumentos da Beira alta em função de posições no horizonte visual do sol nascente no período de Outono/inverno (Senna-Martinez, LóPez PLaza & HOSKin, 1997;Hoskin et al., 1998;HOSKin, 2001, p. 95 sgs.). a partir de 1987, a sucessiva identificação e escavação, na Plataforma do Mondego, de vários sítios de "habitat" correlacionáveis com o neolítico Final regional, possibilita estabelecer relações entre os espaços dos vivos e o dos mortos, alterando significativamente a situação anteriormente vigente. ...

Reference:

ESTUDOS ARQUEOLÓGICOS DE OEIRAS Volume 16 • 2008 CÂMARA MUNICIPAL DE OEIRAS 2008
Studies in Iberian Archaeoastronomy: (5) Orientations of Megalithic Tombs of Northern and Western Iberia

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

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Oriol Mercadal I Fernàndez

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Sara Aliaga I Rodrigo

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[...]

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Artur Martins

... 2.3 Complete compiled catalogue of PG-1159 star observed and confirmed to date. The references are, [5]: Wesemael, R. F. Green, and J. Liebert, 1985, [11]: McCook and Sion, 1999a, [14]: K. Werner, T. Rauch, and Kepler, 2014, [36]: K. Werner, Dreizler, et al., 1997, [37]: K. Werner, 1993c, [38]: K. Werner and Heber, 1991, [39] : Kleinman et al., 2004, [40]: Hügelmeyer et al., 2005a, [41]: Albert D. Grauer, Richard F. Green, and James Liebert, 1992, [43]: Demers et al., 1990, [44]: Hügelmeyer et al., 2005b, [45]: Wesemael, Greenstein, et al., 1993a, [46]: Downes, J. Liebert, and Margon, 1985, [47]: A. H. Córsico et al., 2021a, [48]: Woudt, Warner, and Zietsman, 2012b, [49] : Cowley et al., 1995, [50]: M. Uzundag, A. H. Córsico, Kepler, L. G. Althaus, K. Werner, N. Reindl, Bell, Higgins, Rosa, et al., 2021b, [51]: M. Uzundag, A. H. Córsico, Kepler, L. G. Althaus, K. Werner, N. Reindl, Bell, Higgins, da Rosa, et al., 2021a, [52]: Murat Uzundag et al., 2022, A. H. Córsico et al., 2021b: Nicole Reindl et al., 2021 (Hoskin, 2014) because of its resemblance to planetary disks like Uranus, a classical nebula consists of gaseous matter in a high excitation state resulting from radiation impinging on it. Referring to Kaler, 1985, massive stars go through the phases of core-H burning and He-burning. ...

Reference:

Analysing the evolutionary connection of Central Stars Planetary Nebulae of [WR], wels and PG-1159
William Herschel and The Planetary Nebulae
  • Citing Article

  • April 2014

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

... Furthermore the declination of the tables 1 and 2 show that all the eight orientations are in the correct range to face the rising sun or moon. We point out in this article that the orientations of the great majority of these dolmens confirm the conclusions already described by Michael Hoskin [4,5] and concerning the south Corsican dolmens. The orientation customs observed by builders of communal tombs in Corsica have been presented in detail in [3]. ...

Reference:

Legends, Megaliths And Astronomy In Corsica Island
Note: Further Orientations of Corsican Dolmens
  • Citing Article

  • August 1995

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

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Elizabeth Allan

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Renate Gralewski

... The author delegates her self-awareness on this point to her characters, as Queen Victoria cries 'Enough!' and flings her sceptre into a particularly intricate exegesis of the abortive project to mould the Guelphic Order of Hanover into an honours system for the scientific elite. Tellingly, this text directed me to a useful recent article on the Guelphic honours which I hadn't seen, in exactly the way that academic research notes should (Hanham & Hoskin, 2013). ...

Reference:

Review: The thrilling adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: the (mostly) true story of the first computer, by Sydney Padua
The Herschel Knighthoods: Facts and Fiction
  • Citing Article

  • May 2013

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Andrew Hanham

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Michael Hoskin

... The "pension" he agreed with the King was only half the amount he had been earning from music, and it may have been the promptings of an uneasy conscience that led George the following year to suggest to Herschel that he supplement his pension by making telescopes for sale: "The goodness of my telescopes being generally known, I was desired by the King to get some made for those who wished to have them." 1 The King got the new enterprise off to flying start by commissioning Herschel to make him five 10-ft reflectors; this was a generous act, for George had no idea what he would do with two of the five. 2 The largest reflector Herschel was to make commercially was the 25-ft with 2-ft mirrors that he built for the King of Spain around the turn of the century. Although the mounting was destroyed by Napoleonic troops in 1808, the mirrors and Herschel's instructions for assembly are among the features that survive to this day, and a full-scale replica was recently completed. ...

Reference:

William Herschels Russian Telescopes
George III's Purchase of Herschel Reflectors
  • Citing Article

  • February 2008

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

... El autor británico se propuso medir las orientaciones de todos los megalitos peninsulares, actividad que quedó reflejada en la serie de ocho artículos, "Studies in Iberian Archaeoastronomy", editados entre 1994 y 2001 en la revista Archaeoastronomy en colaboración con autores españoles (Hoskin et al. 1994(Hoskin et al. , 1995(Hoskin et al. , 1995b(Hoskin et al. , 2001Hoskin y Palomo 1998;López Plaza et al. 1997. Hoskin y Sauch 1999Gómez Ruiz y Hoskin 2000) (Tabla 3). ...

Reference:

Studies of archaeoastronomy in Spain: A review
The Orientations of Megalithic Tombs of Eastern Catalunya: Addendum
  • Citing Article

  • February 1999

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin

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Toni Palomo I. Pérez

... Independent methods, such as those estimating the color excess and metallicity parameters, reduced possible parameter degeneracy and lead to reliable estimates for astrophysical parameters of all three clusters. Herschel in 1783 (Hoskin, 2006). The cluster was examined by Alter (1944) who mentioned that the cluster lies in a comparatively rich region, and estimated its distance as 1490 ± 200 pc and diameter ∼ 1.6 pc. ...

Reference:

CCD UBV and Gaia DR3 based analysis of NGC 189, NGC 1758 and NGC 7762 open clusters
Caroline Herschel's Catalogue of Nebulae
  • Citing Article

  • August 2006

Journal for the History of Astronomy

Michael Hoskin