Bulletin de la Société belge d'astronomie : comptes rendues des séances mensuelles de la Société et revue des sciences d'observation : astronomie, météorologie, géodésie et physique du globe c. 1899

This is a bulletin from the Société Belge d'Astronomie, printed in Brussels in 1899. It offers a window into the late 19th century's fascination with science. The bulletin reflects the era's emphasis on empirical observation and categorizing knowledge. Astronomy, meteorology, geodesy, and physics were viewed through a lens shaped by a predominantly white, male scientific community. Publications like these codified scientific knowledge, but also reinforced existing social hierarchies by excluding other voices and perspectives. This document exists in a time when science and colonialism were deeply entwined, as European powers used scientific exploration to justify expansion and exploitation. Gazing at the stars also meant charting territories, mapping resources, and staking claims. It's a reminder that even the seemingly objective pursuit of science is embedded in a complex web of power. By recognizing this, we can better understand both the remarkable achievements and the troubling legacies of this period.