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Letters on Astronomy / in which the Elements of the Science are Familiarly Explained in Connection with Biographical Sketches of the Most Eminent Astronomers cover

Letters on Astronomy / in which the Elements of the Science are Familiarly Explained in Connection with Biographical Sketches of the Most Eminent Astronomers

Chapter 72: Transcriber's Notes
By Denison Olmsted
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About This Book

A series of letters presents elementary principles of astronomy and observational practice, explaining celestial mechanics, instruments, and methods in accessible language. It surveys planetary and lunar motions, eclipses, tides, comets, meteors, and the fixed stars, and outlines laws of motion and universal gravitation. Interspersed biographical sketches profile notable astronomers, while chapters treat timekeeping, calendars, observatories, the shape of the Earth, and recent discoveries, closing with reflections that connect astronomical knowledge to broader natural-theological considerations.

RECENT DISCOVERIES.

  • Improvements in the Telescope, 414
  • Rosse's Leviathan Telescope, 415
  • Pulkova and Cambridge Telescopes, 415
  • Improvements in instrumental Measurements, 416
  • New Planets and Asteroids, 416
  • Great Comet of 1843, 417
  • Distances of the Stars, 418
  • Discovery of Neptune, 419
  • Recent telescopic discoveries, 420
  • Longitude by the Electric Telegraph, 422

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A small pair of globes, that will answer every purpose required by the readers of these Letters, may be had of the publishers of this Work, at a price not exceeding ten dollars; or half that sum for a celestial globe, which will serve alone for studying astronomy.

[2] From two Greek words, τηλε, (tele,) far, and σκοπεω,(skopeo,) to see.

[3] Brewster's Life of Newton

[4] Bonnycastle's Astronomy.

[5] Library of Useful Knowledge: History of Astronomy, page 95.

[6] Sir J. Herschel.

[7]A tangent is a straight line touching a circle, as A D, in Fig. 28

[8] Dick's 'Celestial Scenery,' Chapter IV

[9] Dick's 'Celestial Scenery.'

[10]

"As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night, O'er heaven's clear azure sheds her sacred light, When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene, Around her throne the vivid planets roll, And stars unnumbered gild the glowing pole; O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed, And tip with silver every mountain's head; Then shine the vales, the rocks in prospect rise, A flood of glory bursts from all the skies; The conscious swains, rejoicing in the sight, Eye the blue vault, and bless the useful light."

Pope's Homer.

[11]The exact longitude of the City Hall, in the city of New York, is 4h. 56m. 33.5s.

[12] You will recollect that the sun is said to be at the node, when the places of the node and the sun are both projected, by a spectator on the earth, upon the same part of the heavens.

[13] Altissimum planetam tergeminum observavi. Or, as transposed, Smaismrmilme poeta leumi bvne nugttaviras.

[14] In imitation of Galileo, Huyghens announced his discovery in this form: a a a a a a a c c c c c d e e e e e g h i i i i i i i l l l l m m n n n n n n n n n o o o o p p q r r s t t t t t u u u u u; which he afterwards recomposed into this sentence: Annulo cingitur, tenui, plano, nusquam cohærente, ad eclipticam inclinato.

[15] Dick's 'Celestial Scenery.'

[16] Dick's 'Celestial Scenery.'

[17] The names of all the asteroids known at present are as follows:

1. Ceres.9. Metis.17. Psyche.
2. Pallas.10. Hygeia.18. Melpomene.
3. Juno.11. Parthenope.19. Fortuna.
4. Vesta.12. Victoria.20. Massalia.
5. Astræa.13. Egeria.21. Lutetia.
6. Hebe.14. Irene.22. Calliope.
7. Iris.15. Eunomia.23. Un-named.
8. Flora.16. Thetis.

[18] Sir John Herschel, however, states its diameter at 41,500 miles

Transcriber's Notes

Obvious punctuation and spelling errors repaired.

Inconsistent hyphenation has been repaired.

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