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Charles Piazzi Smyth (1819 1900) was appointed to the post of
Astronomer Royal for Scotland and Regius Professor of Astronomy at
Edinburgh University in 1846. He was respected for his practical
work, and his Teneriffe, an Astronomer's Experiment (1858) is also
reissued in this series. However, this book, first published in
1864, is testimony to the author's interest in 'pyramidology', and
although it was so popular in his own lifetime that it was
reprinted five times, his eccentric interpretation of the data he
had collected by measuring all aspects of the Great Pyramid of Giza
damaged his scientific reputation. Smyth was convinced that the
British measurement standard of an inch as a basic unit of length
was associated with the sacred cubit of the Bible. This measure was
supposedly incorporated in the Pyramid, which he claimed was built
under divine guidance by the Ancient Israelites, and enshrined
scientific information.
The experiences and challenges undertaken by C. Piazzi Smyth during
his expedition to Tenerife on behalf of the Astronomer Royal are
richly depicted and illustrated in this descriptive report of a
major scientific expedition's course. The experiment was 'to
ascertain how far astronomical observation can be improved, by
eliminating the lower third part of the atmosphere'. This account
of the data collection process details the flexibility and
adjustments that were required throughout the course of this
experiment, and the practical organisational difficulties and
delights of leading such an expedition. The joys and interest of
travelling in a foreign land are described with anecdotes of the
people, flora, fauna and geography; particularly the research area,
a volcano. Although first published in 1858 this detailed account
of the experience of collecting precise scientific data in a
challenging environment provides fascinating insights for any
scientist undertaking research in the wild.
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