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: ''This article relates to Charles Mason, the astronomer. For Charles Mason, the philosopher, see Charles Mason (philosopher).''
'Charles Mason' (1728–1786) was an English astronomer.
Mason's early career was spent at the Royal Greenwich Observatory near London. He worked on the surveying of the Mason–Dixon Line (1763–1767), along with fellow Englishman Jeremiah Dixon. The two had previously travelled around the Cape of Good Hope, where they observed the transit of Venus.
Mason crater on the Moon is named after him, and he is one of the titular characters of Thomas Pynchon's 1997 novel ''Mason & Dixon''.
The song ''Sailing to Philadelphia'' from Mark Knopfler's album of the same name, also has strong references to Mason and Dixon, and was inspired by Pynchon's book.

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External links

External links

★ Mason's biography from the American National Biography

★ Account of Mason's Observations of the Transit of Venus in 1769 - PDF