
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Clark, Barry A.J. 
T1  - Influences of German science and scientists on Melbourne Observatory
JF  - Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria
JO  - Proc. R. Soc. Vic.
Y1  - 2015
VL  - 127
IS  - 1
SP  - 43
EP  - 58
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/RS15004 
N2  - The multidisciplinary approach of Alexander von Humboldt in scientific studies of the natural world in the first half of the nineteenth century gained early and lasting acclaim. Later, given the broad scientific interests of colonial Victoria&#x2019;s first Government Astronomer Robert Ellery, one could expect to find some evidence of the Humboldtian approach in the operations of Williamstown Observatory and its successor, Melbourne Observatory. On examination, and without discounting the importance of other international scientific contributions, it appears that Melbourne Observatory was indeed substantially influenced from afar by Humboldt and other German scientists, and in person by Georg Neumayer in particular. Some of the ways in which these influences acted are obvious but others are less so. Like the other Australian state observatories, in its later years Melbourne Observatory had to concentrate its diminishing resources on positional astronomy and timekeeping. Along with Sydney Observatory, it has survived almost intact to become a heritage treasure, perpetuating appreciation of its formative influences. 
ER  -

