Reading the night sky: behind the scenes of Handmade Universe
Reading the night sky is one of the key themes in the Library's exhibition Handmade Universe: From Craft to Code and the Spaces Between. It's explored through several items from our Astronomy Collection, including two very different but equally significant star maps.
There's Royal Astronomer John Flamsteed's impressive celestial atlas Atlas Coelestis, written over 300 years ago in England, and self-taught Astronomer Mary Acworth Orr's pocket-sized Southern Stars: A Guide to the Constellations Visible in the Southern Hemisphere, created after a visit to Australia in the late 19th century.
In this video, Senior Curator Linda Short and Principal Librarian History of the Book and Arts Anna Welch share a close look at the two items and discuss their differences as well as their fascinating connections.
More to explore
- Join us for a festive craft and sip evening inspired by Handmade Universe
- Visit the Library to explore Handmade Universe in person
- Discover Handmade Universe online
- Read our interview with Curator Linda Short