Monday 21st February

Monday 21st February marks the anniversary of the death of Professor Charles Piazzi Smyth.

In addition to making astronomical observations and operating the time-ball on the Nelson Monument, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland worked on developing an artillery range finder.

Although he got as far as producing a prototype, made by Thomas Cooke & Sons, York, he was not happy with the instrument’s performance and decided to drop the project.

In 1858 his friend Colonel Henry Clerk R.A. a cousin of James Clerk Maxwell, brought out a version similar to the professor’s design.

Captain Del Tickner R.A. and his family paid a visit to Edinburgh Castle on Saturday. Del’s son Oliver will be playing the part of a newsboy during the re-enactment of the first firing of the One o’ Clock Gun on 11th June.

This week’s photograph taken by John Thomson shows Professor Piazzi Smyth's house at 1 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh.