Eight Familiar Lectures on Astronomy, Intended as an Introduction to the Science...W. Phillips, 1817 - 254 pages |
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Page 14
... , and moves round it in 87 days 23 hours , at the rate of 109,000 miles an hour . His diameter is about 3100 miles ; his bulk is equal to about 1-16th part of the Earth's . Venus q , the next in order of distance , 14.
... , and moves round it in 87 days 23 hours , at the rate of 109,000 miles an hour . His diameter is about 3100 miles ; his bulk is equal to about 1-16th part of the Earth's . Venus q , the next in order of distance , 14.
Page 17
... enormous bodies , proceeding with inconceivable rapidity , should meet together and by their concussion destroy the equal balance of the whole system ? But we may confidently rely on this - that the wisdom and power which spake 17.
... enormous bodies , proceeding with inconceivable rapidity , should meet together and by their concussion destroy the equal balance of the whole system ? But we may confidently rely on this - that the wisdom and power which spake 17.
Page 19
... two foci of their orbits divide them nearly into four equal parts . The first of the two preceding figures then may serve to represent the orbit of the Earth or of Venus ; and the latter , in which the eccentricity is greater , that 19.
... two foci of their orbits divide them nearly into four equal parts . The first of the two preceding figures then may serve to represent the orbit of the Earth or of Venus ; and the latter , in which the eccentricity is greater , that 19.
Page 22
... equal parts ; and every circle was long since divided into 360 equal parts or degrees , and each of these degrees into 60 parts called minutes ; each minute into 60 parts called seconds , and so on . The utility of this division of the ...
... equal parts ; and every circle was long since divided into 360 equal parts or degrees , and each of these degrees into 60 parts called minutes ; each minute into 60 parts called seconds , and so on . The utility of this division of the ...
Page 23
... equal parts of 180 degrees each , the half of which is 90 de- grees , or the quarter of a circle . Hence we may observe what is meant when it is said that the orbit of Mercury is inclined 7 degrees , 46 minutes , and 50 seconds to the ...
... equal parts of 180 degrees each , the half of which is 90 de- grees , or the quarter of a circle . Hence we may observe what is meant when it is said that the orbit of Mercury is inclined 7 degrees , 46 minutes , and 50 seconds to the ...
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Eight Familiar Lectures on Astronomy, Intended as an Introduction to the Science William Philipps No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
24 hours aberration of light angle apparent diameter astronomer atmosphere attraction axis calculated cause celestial bodies Ceres circle clock Comet constellations Crab diagram disk divided Earth Earth moves Earth round Earth's orbit eclipse Epact equal equator equinox fixed stars Georgium Sidus globe greater half happen hence Herschel horizon inclination inhabitants Jupiter less light and heat luminous lunation Mercury meridian miles an hour millions of miles minutes Moon's motion move round nearer nearly Newton node north pole observed opposite orbit oval owing parallax pass path period planetary planets pole star precisely quarter refractive represent revolution revolve round the Earth round the Sun Saturn seconds seen shadow shew shewn side Solar spots starry sphere Sun appears Sun's rays surface telescope termed tides tion transit of Venus tropic of Cancer turned velocity Venus vernal equinox Vesta visible whole Zodiac Zodiacal light
Popular passages
Page 159 - ... a degree of brightness about as strong as that with which such a coal would be seen to glow in faint daylight.
Page 250 - And this our life, exempt from public haunt, Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
Page 159 - Hence we may compute that the shining or burning matter must be above three miles in diameter. It is of an irregular round figure, and very sharply defined on the edges. The other two...
Page 158 - April 19, 10h 36", sidereal time. I perceive (says he) three volcanoes in different places of the dark part of the new moon. Two of them are either already nearly extinct, or otherwise in a state of going to break out; which perhaps may be decided next lunation. The third shows an actual eruption of fire or luminous matter.
Page 155 - ... spring from their rugged flanks, and threatening the valleys below, seem to bid defiance to the laws of gravitation. Around the base of these frightful eminences, are strewed numerous loose and unconnected fragments, which time seems to have detached from their parent mass ; and when we examine the rents and ravines which accompany the over-hanging cliffs, we expect every moment that they are to be torn from their base, and that the process of destructive separation which we had only contemplated...
Page 97 - The common names, or meaning of these words, in the same order, are, the Ram, the Bull, the Twins, the Crab, the Lion, the Virgin, the Scales, the Scorpion, the Archer, the Goat, the Waterer, and the Fishes. Fig. 183. The 12 signs of the zodiac, together with the sun, and the earth revolving around him, are represented at fig.
Page 39 - The same astronomer also ascertained, that the squares of the times of revolution of the different planets are in proportion to the cubes of their mean distances from the sun.
Page 130 - The space between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle is called the North Temperate Zone, and that between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle is the South Temperate Zone.
Page 234 - Those which appear largest, are called stars of the first magnitude ; the next to them in lustre, stars of the second magnitude ; and so on to the sixth, which are the smallest that are visible to the bare eye.
Page 159 - The other two volcanoes are much farther towards the centre of the moon, and resemble large, pretty faint nebulae, that are gradually much brighter in the middle ; but no well defined luminous spot can be discerned in them. These three spots are plainly to be distinguished from the rest of the marks upon the moon ; for the reflection of the sun's rays from the earth is, in its present situation, sufficiently bright, with a...