Popular Astronomy: A Series of Lectures Delivered at Ipswich

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Macmillan, 1866 - Astronomy - 292 pages
 

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Page viii - This work consists of six lectures, -which are intended " to explain to intelligent persons the principles on which the instruments of an Observatory are constructed (omitting all details, so far as they are merely sub* sidiary ), and the principles on which the observations made with these instruments are treated for deduction of the distances and weights of the bodies of the Solar System, and of a few stars, omitting all minutiti of Elementary Class- Books — continued.
Page 4 - ... however, to deal with what may be called the picturesque in astronomy. I have proposed it to myself as a special object, to show what may be comprehended, by persons possessing common understandings and ordinary education, in the more elevated operations of astronomical science. The Lectures will be, therefore, of what I may call a mathematical kind. But in speaking of this, I beg that the ladies present will not be startled. I do not mean to use algebra or any other science, such as must be...
Page 4 - ... may be comprehended, by persons possessing common understandings and ordinary education, in the more elevated operations of astronomical science. The Lectures will be, therefore, of what I may call a mathematical kind. But in speaking of this, I beg that the ladies present will not be startled. I do not mean to use algebra or any other science, such as must be commonly of an unintelligible character to a mixed meeting. When I use the word mathematical, I mean that it will be my object to show...
Page 13 - ... certain. Having now come to that result, as one which is generally established, I shall just mention a slight departure from it. Perhaps you may be surprised to hear me say the rule is established as true, and yet there is a departure from it. This is the way we go on in science, as in everything else...
Page x - Professor shows that the methods used for measuring astronomical distances are, in some applications, absolutely the same as the methods of ordinary theodolite- surveying, and are in other applications equivalent to them ; and that, in fact, there is nothing in their principles which will present the smallest difficulty to a person who has attempted the common practice of plotting from angular measures...
Page 12 - Equatoreal revolve round the axis uniformly, and it thus gives us the means of ascertaining, with the utmost exactness, whether...
Page 6 - ... declines by similar degrees, and sets at a place in the west, just as far from the north point as the place where it rose in the east. If...

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