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Astronomical apparatus

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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This wooden apparatus, designed by Edward Hitchcock (1793-1864) when he was a young man and preceptor at Deerfield Academy, was customized to the latitude and longitude of Deerfield. It allowed Hitchcock to predict eclipses in the local area. He published this information in almanacs that he authored between 1814 and 1818. Although astronomy did not become Mr. Hitchcock's career choice, the mental skills he perfected were of service later in his profession as an earth scientist and his tenure as president of Amherst College.

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