Item MM 112613 Lantern Slide - Astronomical, Multiple Slide, 'Newtonian System' & 'Earth's Shadow', England, circa 1847

Summary

This is a lantern slide consisting of two hand painted glass discs illustrating the Newtonian system of the planets, and an illustration of the Earth's shadow in space as it would be if the Earth were bigger than or the same size as the Sun, numbered '23' and '24' respectively. This lantern slide is part of a near-complete set of 19 slides used to illustrate a lantern lecture on astronomy, associated with the slide reading 'Popular Lecture on Astronomy'. This particular set was manufactured in England in approximately 1847, depicting astronomical knowledge about the planets as existed around that date. This set was used in Victoria in the nineteenth century. Precise details about its usage are unknown but equivalent sets were widely used in astronomical lantern lectures in Australia between the 1840s and 1880s, as can be seen from the synopses of lectures published in newspapers.

Lantern lectures were one of the most prominent and popular forms of entertainment in the nineteenth century. They were presented in a range of venues including schools, churches, Mechanics' Institutes and by itinerant lecturers, as well as occurring privately in domestic settings. Popular lectures on scientific subjects such as astronomy were a common theme for such performances and were specially associated with the philosophy of 'rational recreation' whereby people, especially the working classes, were encouraged to partake in improving pursuits in their spare time.

Description of Content

The slide consists of two astronomical diagrams. The diagram on the left glass disc, numbered 23 is of the Sun surrounded by the planets, asteroids, comets, and their orbits. It illustrates the Newtonian System of the Solar System, with bodies having elliptical orbits of varying eccentricities. The diagram on the right glass disc, numbered 24, shows the Earth in space. It demonstrates what the shape of the Earth's shadow would be if the Earth were larger than the Sun, or if it were the same size as the Sun.

Physical Description

A Multiple Slide consisting of two glass discs mounted in a solid wood frame. The glass discs are set in recessed holes and held in place by wire retaining springs. The glass discs are seated below the surface of the frame.

Significance

A number of different sets of astronomical lantern slides were produced in the nineteenth century. Sets with static paintings or simple motions were advertised as early as the 1820s.The first such sets appear to have been manufactured by W. & S. Jones. Later firms that produced such sets include Carpenter & Westley, F. West and E.M. Clarke. These sets continued to be sold throughout the nineteenth century. The rackwork astronomical sets that appeared from the 1840s onwards include some of the most technically sophisticated kinds of slides ever produced. While many individual lantern slides survive, complete, or near-complete sets that can be positively associated with a specific lecture reading are relatively rare. As such this set provides a valuable insight into the complete performance of an astronomical lantern lecture.