MDMD: The Next Transit of Venus

[jporter]

Hello Allan!

Nice to see some abiding interest in MDMD. I can't offer much help with the
actual processes and techniques of C18th surveying, although I seem to
recall some specifics in the text itself, but not concentrated enough to
make it really clear. I would be interested in a good description of M&D's
work, as well. I'm currently in the midst of another read through- just
getting ready to leave Capetown.

jody

> From: Kaminker/Wood <landa at earthlink.net>
> Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 19:14:53 -0400
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Subject: MDMD: The Next Transit of Venus
> 
> I have finally begun M&D for real (I joined the list when the group read
> was around page 500 or so and then read about 125 pages and stopped); now I
> have the time for a serious, involved read. So I am going back through the
> archives at the same time and am finding it a wonderful experience,
> rereading passages after getting some info from the list.
> 
> I also recently took Eli Maor's book "June 8, 2004, Venus in Transit"
> (Princeton Uni. Press), a slim volume (175 pages) detailing each transit,
> as well as the upcoming one in 2004.
> 
> Does anyone know of a good book/website that would explain to a lay person
> exactly how Mason & Dixon did what they did as they marked the Line. I read
> about half the novel and now am going back with the archives, so I'm kind
> of sure it is not fully explained in the novel.  How did they set up, how
> often, what did they measure and for how long before moving on?
> 
> Also got a copy of "The Mason and Dixon Line: Story for a Bicentenary
> 1763-1963," a 115-page booklet published by Pennsylvania's Department of
> Internal Affairs. It includes a lot of pages from Mason's journal and
> photos along the way (taken much later of course).  What struck me were
> pictures of John Harland's house.  Was this pointed out during the Read?
> He was a real person.
> 
> Allan Wood
> 
>