From Antikythera to the Square Kilometre Array: Lessons from the Ancients

More than a hundred years ago an extraordinary mechanism was found by sponge divers at the bottom of the sea near the island of Antikythera in Greece. This Antikythera mechanism is an ancient computer from about 100BC, which uses bronze gears to make astronomical calculations based on cycles of the Solar System. Now, more than 2000 years after the device was lost at sea, scientists have used the latest techniques in X-ray computed tomography and reflectance imaging to understand its intricate workings. In June 2012 we plan to hold a workshop linking modern and ancient astronomical technology through the Antikythera theme. We will explore the evolution of astrometry and computing from ancient Greece to the present, we will compare the technologies used to unravel the secrets of the Antikythera mechanism with the imaging tools of modern astronomy, and most importantly, as we pursue our vision of an exciting scientific future with telescopes such as the Square Kilometre Array we can reflect on why the Antikythera technology was lost for more than a thousand years and whether this can happen again.

Sessions
Welcomes and Introductions
The Antikythera Mechanism
History of scientific endeavour
Imaging
Positional astronomy and VLBI
Innovation at the Science, Engineering, Computing nexus
Science and Technology: (Antikythera Mechanism and the past -SKA and the future)
Astronomy
Summary of the Workshop

Welcomes and Introductions

Welcome from Kerastari village PoS(Antikythera & SKA)049 pdf attachments I. Vigla

Welcome from the National Archaeological Museum PoS(Antikythera & SKA)048 pdf A. Christopoulou

Introduction to the Workshop PoS(Antikythera & SKA)004 pdf T. Tzioumis

Linking modern and ancient technology - the structure of the meeting PoS(Antikythera & SKA)005 pdf R.D Ekers

Workshop photograph PoS(Antikythera & SKA)051 pdf J. Reynolds

The Antikythera Mechanism

The NAM Antikythera treasures PoS(Antikythera & SKA)006 pdf M. Zafeiropoulou

The Antikythera Mechanism: From the bottom of the sea to the scrutiny of modern technology PoS(Antikythera & SKA)007 pdf J.H Seiradakis

The research history of the Antikythera shipwreck PoS(Antikythera & SKA)008 L. Tsavliris

Exhibition of Antikythera Mechanism (poster) PoS(Antikythera & SKA)009 X. Moussas

The Antikythera Mechanism and Shipwreck: The sensitive issue of announcing the discovery to the public (poster) PoS(Antikythera & SKA)010 pdf M. Nikoli and J.H Seiradakis

History of scientific endeavour

Prerequisites for the production of the Antikythera Mechanism during the 2nd century PoS(Antikythera & SKA)012 T. Tassios

A Bridge too far ? PoS(Antikythera & SKA)013 pdf L. Woltjer

The history of innovation in radio astronomy PoS(Antikythera & SKA)014 pdf R.D Ekers

Musings on innovation and technology PoS(Antikythera & SKA)015 J. O'Sullivan

The path to wireless internet - 802.11 PoS(Antikythera & SKA)016 D. Skellern

You can't design what you can't conceive - what can we learn from history (presented by Ron Ekers) PoS(Antikythera & SKA)017 pdf B. Frater

Building the Cosmos in the Antikythera Mechanism PoS(Antikythera & SKA)018 pdf T. Freeth

Before and After the Antikythera Mechanism PoS(Antikythera & SKA)019 pdf M. Edmunds

Recent results from the study of Antikythera Mechanism: astronomical clock, Lunar trajectory and Archimedes PoS(Antikythera & SKA)020 X. Moussas

Johannes Kepler: his place in Astronomy PoS(Antikythera & SKA)021 pdf P. Papaspirou

Imaging

X-ray Tomography of the Antikythera Mechanism PoS(Antikythera & SKA)022 pdf A. Ramsey

Exploiting measurement diversity in radio interferometry PoS(Antikythera & SKA)023 T. Cornwell

Imaging with a modern synthesis radio telescope – the LOFAR experience PoS(Antikythera & SKA)024 P. Labropoulos

Surface Analysis with Photogrametry PoS(Antikythera & SKA)025 pdf M. Kesteven

The HP imaging Dome and the Antikythera Machine Inscriptions (presented by Haida Liang) PoS(Antikythera & SKA)026 T. Malzbender

Contributions of astronomy to the study of art conservation and archaeology PoS(Antikythera & SKA)027 pdf H. Liang

Positional astronomy and VLBI

The Antikythera Mechanism: a census of planetary extensions. PoS(Antikythera & SKA)028 N. Bos

Positional Astronomy: The Parapegma of the Antikythera Mechanism PoS(Antikythera & SKA)029 pdf M. Anastasiou

Modern astrometry PoS(Antikythera & SKA)030 J. Reynolds

A Clock for the Square Kilometre Array PoS(Antikythera & SKA)031 pdf S. Schediwy

Pulsar timing arrays PoS(Antikythera & SKA)032 pdf K. Lazaridis

SHEVE '82, Tasso and the coming of Age of Southern Hemisphere VLBI PoS(Antikythera & SKA)033 pdf D.L Jauncey

Innovation at the Science, Engineering, Computing nexus

The Reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism(poster) PoS(Antikythera & SKA)034 pdf attachments K. Efstathiou

The value of making models PoS(Antikythera & SKA)035 K. Efstathiou

Are the modern computer simulations a substitute for physical models? The Antikythera case PoS(Antikythera & SKA)036 pdf M. Roumeliotis

Are the modern computer models a substitute for physical models? The SKA case PoS(Antikythera & SKA)037 pdf S. Tingay

Science and Technology: (Antikythera Mechanism and the past -SKA and the future)

The Antikythera Mechanism and the Public Face of Hellenistic Science PoS(Antikythera & SKA)038 pdf A. Jones

Early Greek Astrophysics PoS(Antikythera & SKA)039 X. Moussas

Ancient technology and modern imaging instrument from Japan PoS(Antikythera & SKA)040 pdf H. Hirabayashi

Radio Astronomy Transformed: Aperture Arrays – Past, Present & Future PoS(Antikythera & SKA)041 pdf M.A. Garrett

ASKAP: the Genesis of New Technology PoS(Antikythera & SKA)042 J. Reynolds

Plato – from Greek philosopher to Antarctic observatory PoS(Antikythera & SKA)043 J. Storey

The SKA PoS(Antikythera & SKA)044 pdf R. Schilizzi

Astronomy

SURO-LC: a space-based ultra-long wavelength radio observatory PoS(Antikythera & SKA)045 pdf W. Baan

The Differential in Astronomy : Past to Present PoS(Antikythera & SKA)046 pdf attachments M. Saul

Hanny’s Voorwerp and the Antikythera Mechanism – similarities, differences and insights. PoS(Antikythera & SKA)047 pdf M.A. Garrett

Summary of the Workshop

Worskshop summary PoS(Antikythera & SKA)050 pdf S. Tingay

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