A Compendium of Astronomy: Intended to Simplify and Illustrate the Principles of the Science, and Give a Concise View of the Motions and Aspects of the Great Heavenly Luminaries ; Adapted to the Use of Common Schools, as Well as Higher SeminariesCarter, Hendee & Company, 1834 - 184 pages |
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Page 16
... form of the sun is globular . This is demonstra- ble from its always appearing a flat , bright circle , what- ever side is presented to the observer . The diameter of the Sun is 883,246 miles ; its circumference 2,774,897 16 THE SUN .
... form of the sun is globular . This is demonstra- ble from its always appearing a flat , bright circle , what- ever side is presented to the observer . The diameter of the Sun is 883,246 miles ; its circumference 2,774,897 16 THE SUN .
Page 17
... miles ; its circumference 2,774,897 miles . The Sun is 1,364,115 times larger than the Earth . Thus , surpassing in greatness the globe we in- habit more than 13 million times , it swells beyond our conception . Some imperfect idea of ...
... miles ; its circumference 2,774,897 miles . The Sun is 1,364,115 times larger than the Earth . Thus , surpassing in greatness the globe we in- habit more than 13 million times , it swells beyond our conception . Some imperfect idea of ...
Page 18
... of the atmosphere , vanishes , when compared with the distance of the Sun. What are four or five miles in comparison to ninety - five millions ! No mountain is so elevated , no balloon can ascend so high , as 18 THE SUN .
... of the atmosphere , vanishes , when compared with the distance of the Sun. What are four or five miles in comparison to ninety - five millions ! No mountain is so elevated , no balloon can ascend so high , as 18 THE SUN .
Page 22
... miles , con- sisting of two regions ; that nearest the Sun being opaque , and probably resembling the clouds of our Earth ; the outermost emitting vast quantities of light , and forming the apparent luminous globe we behold . " Harriot ...
... miles , con- sisting of two regions ; that nearest the Sun being opaque , and probably resembling the clouds of our Earth ; the outermost emitting vast quantities of light , and forming the apparent luminous globe we behold . " Harriot ...
Page 23
... miles in diameter . In most of them , there is a very dark nucleus , surrounded by an umbra , or fainter shade . A distinct and well - defined boundary intervenes between the umbra and nucleus . The part of the umbra nearest the dark ...
... miles in diameter . In most of them , there is a very dark nucleus , surrounded by an umbra , or fainter shade . A distinct and well - defined boundary intervenes between the umbra and nucleus . The part of the umbra nearest the dark ...
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A Compendium of Astronomy; Intended to Simplify and Illustrate the ... John Vose No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
ancient angle aphelion appear Aries ascending node Asteroids astronomers atmosphere attraction aurora borealis axis bissextile brazen meridian cause celestial centre comets commence computed conjunction constellations declination degree discovered disk diurnal rotation dominical letter east eclipses elevated epact equal equator equinox fixed stars full Moon harvest Moon heat heavenly body heavens hemisphere Herschel horizon hour inclination inferior conjunction inferior planets inhabitants Jupiter latitude libration light longitude longitude for 100 luminous lunar magnitude Mars Mean diameter Mean distance Mercury and Venus meridian meteors miles month move night obliquity observed opposite parallax passing performs a revolution perihelion phenomena Plate polar circles poles primary planets rays reckoned refraction represented Retrograde motion revolve right ascension rising round the Earth round the Sun satellites Saturn seen side slow of clock solar system spots Sun fast Sun slow Sun's place surface telescope tides tion visible zenith
Popular passages
Page 156 - our astronomical observer" at a salary of £100 per annum, his duty being "forthwith to apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying the tables of the motions of the heavens and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting the art of navigation.
Page 169 - I was called up," says Mr. Ellicou, " about 3 o'clock in the morning, to see the shooting stars, as they are called. The phenomenon was grand and awful. The whole heavens appeared as if illuminated with skyrockets, which disappeared only by the light of the sun, after daybreak. The meteors, which at any one instant of time, appeared as numerous as the stars, flew in all possible directions...
Page 158 - ... that, situated as we are in this western hemisphere, more than three thousand miles from any fixed or known meridian, it would be proper, in a national point of view to establish a first meridian for ourselves ; and that measures should be taken for the eventual establishment of such a meridian in the United States. In examining the maps and charts of the United States, and the particular states, or their sea coasts, which have been published in this country, the committee find, that the publishers...
Page 128 - AG F E D CB A G F ED C B A 1100 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24...
Page 124 - Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November, All the rest have thirty-one Excepting February alone : Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine, Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.
Page 147 - That the milky way is a most extensive stratum of stars of various sizes admits no longer of the least doubt; and that our sun is actually one of the heavenly bodies belonging to it is as evident.
Page 168 - Towards the morning of the 13th of November, 1799, we witnessed a most extraordinary scene of shooting meteors. Thousands of bodies and falling stars succeeded each other during four hours. Their direction was very regular from north to south. From the beginning of the phenomenon there was not a space in the firmament equal in extent to three diameters of the moon which was not filled every instant with bodies or falling stars. All the meteors left luminous traces or phosphorescent bands behind them,...
Page 53 - Huge massess of rock rise at once from the plains, and raise their peaked summits to an immense height in the air, while projecting crags 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...
Page 81 - The atmosphere is known to abound with electric matter, and the appearance of the electric matter in vacuo is exactly like the appearance of the aurora borealis, which, from its great altitude, may be considered to be in as perfect a vacuum as we can make. The electric matter in vacuo suffers the rays of light to pass through, without being affected by them. The tail of a comet does not expand itself sideways, nor does the electric matter. Hence, he supposes the tails of comets, the aurora borealis,...
Page 72 - ... the heavens that presents us with such a variety of extraordinary phenomena as the planet Saturn : a magnificent globe, encompassed by a stupendous double ring : attended by seven satellites : ornamented with equatorial belts : compressed at the poles : turning...