The Cyanometer Postcard by Macarena Ruiz-Tagle

Based on the original Cyanometer (previously here) invented in 1789 by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, a Genevan geologist, meteorologist, physicist, mountaineer and Alpine explorer, the Cyanometer Postcard is a convenient, updated version. Artist Macarena Ruiz-Tagle created it for the 13th Annual Architecture Venice Biennale. She says "The Cyanometer Postcard captures the nuances of sky blueness at a specific moment, allowing senders to document and share this information with the recipient. Its purpose is to connect individuals globally, embracing contemplation of the sky's beauty across different latitudes."

Photo: Franziska Strauss

Photo: Franziska Strauss

She has also created a Sunsetometer to gauge the colors of a sunset...it might take a few colors to describe such an event.

And sadly, a Pollutionometer measures the color related to airborne particulates...but apropos of the Northern California coast in my backyard, it could be used for our nightly refreshing fog.

Photo: Macarena Ruiz-Tagle, at Tiananmen Square, China

https://macarenaruiztagle.com/

The Cyanometer

Who knew there is an invention to measure the blue of the sky?

Well, there is and it was invented by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure, a Genevan geologist, meteorologist, physicist, mountaineer and Alpine explorer, often called the founder of alpinism and modern meteorology (and considered to be the first person to build a successful solar oven!) who was fascinated with the phenomenon of the sky appearing to be a darker blue the higher one ascended in elevation. So after climbing Mont Blanc to experience the phenomenon for himself, he invented in 1789 a device to measure the exact blue of the sky. He called this invention, a ring of paper with 52 different hues of blue arranged from light to dark on a gradated circular scale, a Cyanometer.

de Saussure’s original Cyanometer now at the Bibliothèque de Genève, Switzerland

A reproduction in a book of de Saussure’s original Cyanometer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanometer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Bénédict_de_Saussure