Khaikhan special episode 1
2009/09/07
A history of modern astronomy in Thailand Part 1 - Part 1 tells about Thailand’s astronomy before the 20th Century. Not long after the advent of the telescope, late 17th Century Siam (former name of Thailand) built the first modern astronomical observatory in the far east and began networking with Cassini's Paris Observatory. Nearly 200 years later King Rama IV or King Mongkut, of the King and I story, was an accomplished astronomer. He accurately predicted the time and location of the total solar eclipse of August 18, 1868 to the acclaim of professional European astronomers. Finally, King Rama V gave his support to Sir Arthur Schuster’s Royal Society total solar eclipse expedition in 1875. Incidental music is taken from King Rama VII’s Ratri Pradap Dao (Starry night), performed by Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gudni Emilsson.
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