Instrumentation, Practice, and Observation: The Making and Use of Visual Records in American Astrophysics, 1860-1914

彭日成博士与斯坦福大学的Timothy Quartier博士合作， 正在研究视觉记录的制作和复制， 世纪美国天体物理学。 大型望远镜、照相机， 摄谱仪是世纪非常有前途的技术 天体物理学家，但他们很难使用， 很难生产、复制和分析。 彭博士正在研究 这些问题和机遇得到了处理，以及它们是如何处理的 改变了天体物理学研究 彭博士开始他的研究， 技术影响了天文学家的工作和工作场所。 新 望远镜系统，包括较大的光学系统，精确跟踪 机制和摄影技术，创造了机会， 新的研究项目。 然而，新的技术技能和 他们所需要的训练重塑了观察的技巧， 需要专家分析和减少大量数据。 然后，他正在研究印刷技术-雕刻， 平版印刷等等--定义了天文学家可以复制的图像 并与他们的同事在期刊和个人 通讯 他还在研究新图像是如何被使用的 进行远程合作研究。 最后，他正在检查 为什么大型望远镜和摄影没有取代绘画， 在一些研究领域进行直接观察。 通过采取这一 系统的观点，并审查所需的整个工作范围， 制作、分享和使用视觉记录--从 望远镜，分析室，打印机的商店， 科学期刊和私人信件-彭博士将展示如何 视觉记录的产生改变了天体物理学的实践， 观察和天体物理学知识的形成。

Working with Dr. Timothy Lenoir of Stanford University, Dr. Pang is examining the production and reproduction of visual records in 19th century American astrophysics. Large telescopes, cameras, and spectrographs were highly promising technologies to 19th century astrophysicists, but they were difficult to use, and the images hard to produce, replicate, and analyze. Dr. Pang is studying how those problems and opportunities were dealt with, and how they changed astrophysical research. Dr. Pang is beginning his research by examining how the technologies affected the work and workplaces of astronomers. New telescope systems, consisting of larger optics, accurate tracking mechanisms, and photographic technology, created opportunities for new research programs. However, the new technical skills and training they required reshaped the craft of observing, and created a need for specialists to analyze and reduce large masses of data. He is then examining how printing technologies--engraving, lithography, etc.--defined what images astronomers could reproduce and share with their colleagues in journals and personal communications. He is also examining how the new images were used in long-distance collaborative research. Finally, he is examining why large telescopes and photography did not displace drawing and direct observation in a few research areas. By taking this systemic view, and examining the entire range of work required to produce, share, and use visual records--by moving from the telescope, to the analysis room, to the printer's shop, to the scientific journal and private letter--Dr. Pang will show how the production of visual records changed the practice of astrophysical observation and the making of astrophysical knowledge.