Astronomy - USA (2020-05)

52 ASTRONOMY • MAY 2020

Schools and colleges throughout

America regarded The Geography of the

Heavens as a valuable tool for teaching

astronomy. BY MICHAEL E. BAKICH

CHARTING

THE 19 TH-CENTURY

HEAVENS

The Geography of the Heavens,

along with the atlas designed for it, appeared in 1833 and

single-handedly changed the landscape of astronomy edu-

cation. Its author, Elijah Hinsdale Burritt, wrote in a more

understandable style than was common in the textbooks

of the day. More importantly, he stressed observation over

theory. Burritt created this combination textbook and set

of maps specifically to get students out under the stars.

ABOVE: The stars and

constellations of winter

(left, Map III) and fall

(Map II) are the first pair a

student would encounter

in Burritt’s Atlas. As in the

sky, Orion the Hunter

stands out on the winter

map. Note that some

regions of the figures,

which should share the

central borders of the

maps, are missing.

ALL IMAGES: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

LEFT: The summer (far

left, Map V) and spring

(Map IV) star figures join

better than the previous

pair. The “shadow”

drawing of Libra the

Scales forms the main

connecting point.