Letters on Astronomy, Addressed to a Lady, in which the Elements of the Science are Familiarly Explained in Connexion with Its Literary History: With Numerous Engravings |
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Page 12
... period of life ; but it is a singular fact , that distinguished astronomers , as a class , have been remarkable for longevity . I know not how to account for this fact , unless we suppose that the study of astronomy itself has something ...
... period of life ; but it is a singular fact , that distinguished astronomers , as a class , have been remarkable for longevity . I know not how to account for this fact , unless we suppose that the study of astronomy itself has something ...
Page 51
... period of the revolution of the star . Sidereal time commences when the vernal equinox is on the meridian , just as solar time commences when the sun is on the meridian . Hence the hour by the sidereal clock has no correspon- dence with ...
... period of the revolution of the star . Sidereal time commences when the vernal equinox is on the meridian , just as solar time commences when the sun is on the meridian . Hence the hour by the sidereal clock has no correspon- dence with ...
Page 52
... periods of passing the merid- ian . Again , it is easy to take the declination of a body when on the meridian . By declination , you will recol- lect , is meant the distance of a heavenly body from the equinoctial ; the same , indeed ...
... periods of passing the merid- ian . Again , it is easy to take the declination of a body when on the meridian . By declination , you will recol- lect , is meant the distance of a heavenly body from the equinoctial ; the same , indeed ...
Page 59
... period of the revolu- tion of the earth on its axis , which , by the most exact observations , is found to be always the same . I have anticipated a little of this subject , in giving an account of the transit instrument and clock , but ...
... period of the revolu- tion of the earth on its axis , which , by the most exact observations , is found to be always the same . I have anticipated a little of this subject , in giving an account of the transit instrument and clock , but ...
Page 61
... period which consti- tutes the civil day of twenty - four hours , beginning.when the sun is on the lower meridian , namely , at twelve o'clock at night , and counted by twelve hours from the lower to the upper meridian , and from the ...
... period which consti- tutes the civil day of twenty - four hours , beginning.when the sun is on the lower meridian , namely , at twelve o'clock at night , and counted by twelve hours from the lower to the upper meridian , and from the ...
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Common terms and phrases
angle appear ascertain astronomers atmosphere attraction axis called celestial centre circle comet conjunction constellation degrees diameter direction discovery disk distance diurnal motion doctrine double stars earth ecliptic equal equator equinox exhibit fact fixed stars force Galileo globe gravity greater greatest half Halley's comet heavenly bodies heavens Hence Herschel horizon inferior conjunction instrument John Herschel Jupiter Kepler latitude laws length less light longitude lunar lunar eclipse magnitude measure Mercury meridian meteors millions of miles minutes moon moon's motion move nearer nearly nebula node objects observations opposite orbit parallax passing perihelion period phenomena planetary planets pole respect revolve right ascension ring round satellites Saturn seen shadow side solar system space spectator sphere sun's superior planets supposed surface tance telescope thousand tides tion truth Tycho Tycho Brahe universal gravitation Uranus velocity Venus vernal equinox visible west to east
Popular passages
Page 193 - Less than archangel ruined, and the excess Of glory obscured ; as when the sun, new risen, Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon, In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.
Page 69 - Then stay'd the fervid wheels, and in his hand He took the golden compasses, prepared In God's eternal store, to circumscribe This universe, and all created things: One foot he centred, and the other turn'd Round through the vast profundity obscure, And said, ' Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, This be thy just circumference, O world!
Page 233 - Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, If better thou belong not to the dawn, Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn With thy bright circlet, praise Him in thy sphere, While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.
Page 179 - As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night, O'er Heaven's clear azure spreads 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 unnumber'd gild the glowing pole, O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed, And tip with silver every mountain's head...
Page 377 - IX. 0 how canst thou renounce the boundless store Of charms which Nature to her votary yields! The warbling woodland, the resounding shore, The pomp of groves, and garniture of fields; All that the genial ray of morning gilds, And all that echoes to the song of even, All that the mountain's sheltering bosom shields, And all the dread magnificence of heaven, O how canst thou renounce, and hope to be forgiven ! X.
Page 206 - First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, Regent of day, and all the horizon round Invested with bright rays, jocund to run His longitude through heaven's high road ; the gray Dawn and the Pleiades before him danced, Shedding sweet influence.
Page 213 - Rock, which stands on one side of the harbour's mouth, so nearly right ahead that we had not to alter our course above a point in order to hit the entrance of Rio. This was the first land we had seen for three months, after crossing so many seas and being set backwards and forwards by innumerable currents and foul winds.
Page 278 - ... satellites. But we shall do wrong to judge of the fitness or unfitness of their condition, from what we see around us, when, perhaps, the very combinations which convey to our minds only images of horror, may be in reality theatres of the most striking and glorious displays of beneficent contrivance.
Page 377 - It was then as bright as Sirius, and continued to increase till it surpassed Jupiter when brightest, and was visible at mid-day. It began to diminish in December of the same year, and in March 1574, had entirely disappeared.
Page 269 - I touch with my own hands. I, the - above-named Galileo Galilei, have abjured, sworn, promised and bound myself, as above, and in witness thereof with my own hand have subscribed this present writing of my abjuration, which I have recited word for word.