LALANDE (Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de) - Lot 90

LALANDE (Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de) LALANDE, Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de. Born in Bourg-en-Bresse, 1732-1807. French astronomer. Member of the Académie des Sciences. L.A.S. "De Lalande" addressed to M. Mougin, curé de la Grande-Combe-des-Bois near Saint-Hippolyte (Doubs). S.l., November 11, 1806. 1 p. in-12 oblong with autograph address on verso and postmark. Interesting scientific letter concerning astronomical observations and the distribution of astronomical ephemerides in the early 19th century. Lalande informs his correspondent of the dispatch of Connaissance des Temps for 1808: "I have sent you my dear colleague by post the 1808 connaissance des tems. In it you will find observations of the eclipse, which you can compare with your own. You will also find observations of the moon made in Paris. If you could calculate some of them and compare them with Burg's tables, you would be doing something useful. The letter bears witness to Lalande's exchanges with a network of provincial observers, ecclesiastics and enlightened amateurs, whom he asked to compare their calculations with the great European astronomical tables. The mention of the "Burg tables" refers to the work of Austrian astronomer Johann Tobias Bürg, famous for his lunar calculations. Lalande adds: "I have written to the Minister of Worship to obtain for you the increase in the number of septuagenarians." A fine evocation of the links between science, imperial administration and scholarly networks under the Consulate and Empire. Admitted to the Académie des Sciences in 1753, Lalande was one of the great popularizers of French astronomy. Director of Connaissance des Temps and professor at the Collège de France for almost half a century, he made a powerful contribution to the dissemination of astronomical observations among European scientists and amateurs. A charming scientific piece, preserved with its autograph address and postmark.