The primary source for the history of the observatory, from the arrival of Mutis to 1950, is BatemanAlfredo D., El Observatorio Astronómico de Bogotá: Monografia histórica con ocasión del 150. anniversario de su fundación, 1803 − agosto 20 – 1953 (Bogota, 1954). The Botanical Expedition has been described by FlorentinoVezga, La Expedition Botánica (Bogota, 1936).
2.
The Observatory still stands (as of last report) next to the Presidential Palace, in one corner of the large plaza which extends to the National Capital. Although surrounded by the remains of the garden of the Botanical Expedition, it is now difficult to visit or photograph. With the increase of terrorism in recent years the entire square was surrounded by a high fence topped with barbed wire, and is patrolled by members of the Presidential Guard.
3.
In addition to the book of Bateman, there is a biographical monograph by de PomboLinoMarraLuis MurilloBatemanAlfredo D., Francisco José de Caldas, published as a Supplement to La Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales (Bogota, 1958).
4.
The astronomical library, however, including the books that belonged to Caldas, were still housed in the old tower when I visited it around 1970.
5.
Bogota was probably the only observatory to have two of its Directors (Caldas and Burla) killed by Spanish forces. It must also have been the only one to have been used as a prison for a deposed President of the Republic — General Mosquera, during most of 1867.
6.
These seem to have been mostly geodetic observations. MaillyN. E., Tableau de l'astronomie dans l'hémisphère austral et dans l'Inde (Brussels, 1872), 222, mentions an observatory in Rio de Janeiro as early as 1780, but Morais (op. cit. (ref. 7), 120) thinks that this refers to surveys of the boundaries of Rio made by Sanchez Dorta and Oliveira Barbosa in 1781.
7.
The story of the founding of the Observatorio Astronomico de Rio de Janeiro has been summarized well by de MoraisA. in vol. i, ch. 2 of Fernando de Azevedo, Las ciencias no Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, n.d.) and in Henrique Morize, Observatorio Astronomico, um secula de historia 1827–1927) (Rio de Janeiro, 1987).
8.
When the Emperor came to the United States in 1876 in connection with the Philadelphia Exposition, he requested a visit to the U.S. Naval Observatory. Simon Newcomb, then in charge of the transit circle, was in the group appointed to receive him. In his Reminiscences of an astronomer (Boston, 1903), 116–20, Newcomb describes his surprise when Dom Pedro cut the ceremonies short in order to make a thorough tour of the Observatory and take a view of the Moon with the 26-inch reflector. The Emperor examined particularly the mounting of the clocks.
The expedition is described in the detailed report, GillissJames M., The U.S. naval astronomical expedition to the southern hemisphere during the years 1849–50 (5 vols, Washington, 1856).
11.
The history of the Observatory has been related by KeenanP. C.PintoS.AlvarezH., The Chilean National Astronomical Observatory (1852–1965) (Santiago, 1985). The text is in both English and Spanish. Many of the earlier documents and reports of the Observatory were published in Annales de la Universidad de Chile from 1852 to 1965.
12.
NewcombS., Appendix II to the Astronomical and meteorological observations made at the United States Naval Observatory during the year 1865 (Washington, 1867).
13.
Some account of the discussion between Sarmiento and Gould is given by ComstockG. C., “Benjamin Apthorp Gould”, Biographical memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, xvii (1922), 155–80.
14.
A description of the founding and work of the Observatory is given in the centennial publication, Observatorio Astronómico de Cordoba, 1871 – 24 de Octubre — 1971. Gould's own description of the early days of the Observatory was published in American journal of science, 3rd series, i (1871), 153–6.
15.
The work of the Cordoba Observatory between 1909 and 1936 has been described by HodgeJohn E., “Charles Dillon Perrine and the transformation of the Argentine National Observatory”, Journal for the history of astronomy, viii (1977), 12–25.
16.
de OrtizAyalaSimonTadeo, Resumen de la Estadistica del Impero Méxicano, 1882 (Mexico, 1968). The early efforts to establish an observatory in Mexico City are described by MarcoA.MorenoC., “Algunos sucesos que dieron origen a la fundación definitiva del Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de México en 1878”, Quipu, iii (1986), 299–309. There is a brief account of astronomy in Mexico in de GortariEli, La ciencia en la historia de México (Mexico City, 1980), 178.
17.
The Maximilian-Maury interlude is treated briefly in the several biographies of each. Cf.WilliamsFrances L., Mathew Fontaine Maury, scientist of the sea (New Brunswick, 1963).
18.
There is an interesting description of the expedition to Japan in de LeonLuis, Los progresos de la astronomía en México desde 1810 a 1910 (Mexico City, 1911).
19.
Ibid., 17–19.
20.
A special issue of Ciencia y desarollo (May-June, 1978) was devoted to the anniversary. An address by ParisPismis, “El Observatorio Astronómico Nacional: Su huella en el primer siglo de vida”, appeared in Revista de la Universidad de México, August 1978.
