Astronomical History with Fred Watson
Fri, 17 Apr
|State Library of New South Wales
Join Fred Watson for a journey through time, exploring the rich history of Australian and European astronomy at the State Library. From early celestial maps to southern sky catalogues, discover how our understanding of the night sky has evolved over centuries.
Time & Location
17 Apr 2026, 10:00 am – 11:30 am
State Library of New South Wales, Mitchell Library, 1 Shakespeare Pl, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
About the event
Join Fred Watson for a fascinating journey through the history of astronomy, exploring rare and remarkable works from both European and Australian traditions at the State Library of New South Wales.
Held in the Michael Crouch Room, this special session will take you back in time—from early 16th-century celestial maps and Renaissance-era observations, through to the first detailed catalogues of the southern skies produced in Australia. These extraordinary works reveal how our understanding of the universe has evolved, and how the southern hemisphere played a critical role in expanding global astronomical knowledge.
Featuring original materials including early star charts, globes, comet studies and historic observations such as James Cook’s record of the Transit of Venus, this is a rare opportunity to see the story of the night sky told through centuries of discovery.
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Location: Michael Crouch Room, level 1 Mitchell Library Bldg
This intimate session offers a…