A Mayer odyssey (part 2)

23 Sep 2011

Following on from my trip to Marbach to see Tobias Mayer's birthplace, we've also just visited the University of Göttingen, where he was a professor from 1751 until his death in 1762. The Institute of Physics there has a good museum, which includes several Mayer-related items.

The largest is a mural quadrant by the London instrument-maker John Bird, which he personally installed at the University's observatory in 1755-6. This was an instrument that Mayer used for his astronomical work relating to the Moon, which underpinned the tables for which he was posthumously awarded £3,000 by the Commissioners for Longitude.
 

Although staff at the Institute were quick to point out that the quadrant is now set up incorrectly (facing east-west rather than north-south), the opportunity for a team photo was too good to miss. From left to right, by the way, are: Alexi, Sophie, me and Katy.

If we look relaxed, it's because we've given our papers already!