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Hello, the 18th century explorer and astronomer James Cook wrote ambition leads me not only farther than any other man

Has been before me, but as far I think as it is possible for man to go and quote

Cook's ambition took him to the far reaches of the Pacific led to astronomical

Astronomical observations which measured the distance of Venus to the Sun with unprecedented accuracy

Cook's ambition wasn't just personal and astronomical

It represented the ambitions of the British Empire, which were linked inextricably with science and trade

The great transit of Venus measurement on Cook's voice at the Haiti marked the beginning of a period of expansion by the British

Which relied on maritime navigation based on astronomical knowledge

How had ancient trade routes set a precedent for colonial expansion?

What was the link between astronomy and surveying?

What tools did the 18th and 19th century astronomers have at their disposal?

And how did the British use science to justify imperial ambitions?

With me to discuss astronomy and empire are Simon Chaffer professor in the history of philosophy of science at the University of Cambridge

Kristen Lippet got former director of the Royal Observatory Grennich and Alan Chapman historian of science at the history faculty at Oxford University

Simon Chaffer we tend to think of the great scientific travelers of the 18th and 19th centuries as naturalists pre-eminently Darwin

She would also think of others as scientific imperialists

I think it's very important to understand the way in which travel and global reach and mapping and surveying

We're absolutely fundamental enterprises for the emergence of modern science

It's not just though it was very important that issues like economic botany and the accumulation of natural resources were crucial for the empire think of tea or rubber or coffee

But it was also the case that the

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