Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- MEMOIR
- TREATISE
- Chapter I The occasion, excellence, and utility of the Observation
- Chapter II Account of the Observation
- Chapter III What others observed, or might have observed, of this Conjunction
- Chapter IV It is proved that the spot observed in the Sun's disc was really Venus
- Chapter V The Examination of the apparent Longitude and Latitude of Venus from the Sun
- Chapter VI The alteration of the apparent into the true situation of Venus
- Chapter VII An Inquiry into the Time and Place of the true Conjunction of Venus and the Sun
- Chapter VIII The Demonstration of the Node of Venus
- Chapter IX The beginning, middle, and end of the Transit are shewn
- Chapter X An Examination of the Calculations of Astronomers respecting the foregoing
- Chapter XI The Calculation of Copernicus
- Chapter XII The Calculation of Lansberg
- Chapter XIII The Calculation of Longomontanus
- Chapter XIV The Calculation of Kepler
- Chapter XV Correction of the Motions according to Rudolphi
- Chapter XVI On the Diameter of Venus
- Chapter XVII On the Diameters of the rest of the Planets, of the Proportion of the Celestial Spheres, and of the Parallax of the Sun
- Plate section
Chapter X - An Examination of the Calculations of Astronomers respecting the foregoing
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- PREFACE
- MEMOIR
- TREATISE
- Chapter I The occasion, excellence, and utility of the Observation
- Chapter II Account of the Observation
- Chapter III What others observed, or might have observed, of this Conjunction
- Chapter IV It is proved that the spot observed in the Sun's disc was really Venus
- Chapter V The Examination of the apparent Longitude and Latitude of Venus from the Sun
- Chapter VI The alteration of the apparent into the true situation of Venus
- Chapter VII An Inquiry into the Time and Place of the true Conjunction of Venus and the Sun
- Chapter VIII The Demonstration of the Node of Venus
- Chapter IX The beginning, middle, and end of the Transit are shewn
- Chapter X An Examination of the Calculations of Astronomers respecting the foregoing
- Chapter XI The Calculation of Copernicus
- Chapter XII The Calculation of Lansberg
- Chapter XIII The Calculation of Longomontanus
- Chapter XIV The Calculation of Kepler
- Chapter XV Correction of the Motions according to Rudolphi
- Chapter XVI On the Diameter of Venus
- Chapter XVII On the Diameters of the rest of the Planets, of the Proportion of the Celestial Spheres, and of the Parallax of the Sun
- Plate section
Summary
The value of this observation, in correcting the motion of Venus, has already been explained. We must next ascertain how the facts which are deduced from it agree with the calculations of astronomers. This inquiry will doubtless shew the usefulness of the observation to the practical student; especially as it will appear that even the best astronomers have not only disagreed among themselves, but have considerably deviated from the truth.
There are four astronomers from whose tables Ephemerides are at this time chiefly computed, into whose respective merits, as there is some difference of opinion, it may be well carefully to inquire.
1st. Copernicus who compiled the new, or rather the renewed, hypotheses, and the laws of the sidereal motions, in six books of Revolutions, from which Erasmus Reinhold afterwards constructed the Prutenic tables; and from these, Origanus, Maginus, and others derived their Ephemerides which are still extant, and are chiefly used in our prognostics, though now the Prutenic calculation is held in less esteem.
2nd. Longomontanus, the disciple of Tycho Brahé, and as it were the heir of his discoveries, who, in his Danish astronomy, treading faithfully in the footsteps of his master, brought to a conclusion those things which Tycho was by death prevented from finishing.
3rd. The sagacious Kepler, who formerly assisted Tycho in his calculations, was afterwards astronomer to three Emperors, and happily effected the renovation of the science by the publication of the Rudolphian tables, to which his other writings may be considered a prelude.
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- Memoir of the Life and Labors of the Rev. Jeremiah HorroxTo Which is Appended a Translation of his Celebrated Discourse Upon the Transit of Venus Across the Sun, pp. 161 - 164Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1859