RESUMO
In 1905 the Campos Rodrigues Observatory (CRO) was founded in Lourenço Marques (nowadays Maputo), the capital of Mozambique, by then part of the Portuguese overseas empire. In this paper the inception and early history of the CRO are analysed in the broader context of the interwoven history of the Portuguese and British empires in Africa, and specifically with respect to the scientific relations between Mozambique and South Africa. The equipment, personnel, practices and networks involved in the inception and early development of the CRO are brought into focus in order to illustrate the problems and strategies that shaped the establishment and functioning of this observatory, which was conceived essentially as a symbol of imperial stamina and colonial prowess. It is suggested that by providing a focal point for the development of scientific relations between Mozambique and South Africa, the CRO served both Portuguese ambitions for recognition as an imperial power and the emergence of South African nationalism.
Assuntos
Astronomia/história , Colonialismo , Meteorologia/história , Astronomia/instrumentação , Astronomia/organização & administração , História do Século XX , Meteorologia/instrumentação , Meteorologia/organização & administração , Moçambique , África do Sul , TempoAssuntos
Astronomia/instrumentação , Astronomia/organização & administração , Planetas , Pesquisadores , United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration/tendências , Astronomia/economia , Astronomia/tendências , Exobiologia/tendências , Meio Ambiente Extraterreno/química , Estados Unidos , United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration/economia , United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration/organização & administraçãoRESUMO
Consideration of the reaction to a SETI detection by the media, and the effect this will have on the public, is more than mere sociological speculation. An accurate forecast of the media's interest can lead to actions that will help ensure that correct and comprehensible information reaches the public. This is most critical in the first few weeks following a discovery. While a widely accepted protocol for dealing with a detection exists in the "Declaration of Principles Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence," it gives scant consideration to the fact that the actual situation will be chaotic and not subject to easy control. The 1996 story about the possible discovery of martian microfossils has provided a useful precedent for what will happen if astronomers uncover the existence of alien intelligence.
