On the Connexion of the Physical Sciencesanboco, 2016 M09 27 - 1330 pages Science, regarded as the pursuit of truth, must ever afford occupation of consummate interest, and subject of elevated meditation. The contemplation of the works of creation elevates the mind to the admiration of whatever is great and noble; accomplishing the object of all study, which, in the eloquent language of Sir James Mackintosh, "is to inspire the love of truth, of wisdom, of beauty—especially of goodness, the highest beauty—and of that supreme and eternal Mind, which contains all truth and wisdom, all beauty and goodness. By the love or delightful contemplation and pursuit of these transcendent aims, for their own sake only, the mind of man is raised from low and perishable objects, and prepared for those high destinies which are appointed for all those who are capable of them." Astronomy affords the most extensive example of the connection of the physical sciences. In it are combined the sciences of number and quantity, of rest and motion. In it we perceive the operation of a force which is mixed up with everything that exists in the heavens or on earth; which pervades every atom, rules the motions of animate and inanimate beings, and is as sensible in the descent of a rain-drop as in the falls of Niagara; in the weight of the air, as in the periods of the moon. Gravitation not only binds satellites to their planet, and planets to the sun, but it connects sun with sun throughout the wide extent of creation, and is the cause of the disturbances, as well as of the order of nature; since every tremor it excites in any one planet 2is immediately transmitted to the farthest limits of the system, in oscillations which correspond in their periods with the cause producing them, like sympathetic notes in music, or vibrations from the deep tones of an organ. The heavens afford the most sublime subject of study which can be derived from science. |
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... Stars—Their Number—The Milky Way—Double Stars— Binary Systems—Their Orbits and Periodic Times—Colours of the Stars—Stars that have vanished—Variable Stars—Variation in Sun's Light—Parallax and Distances of the Fixed Stars—Masses of the ...
... Stars—Their Number—The Milky Way—Double Stars— Binary Systems—Their Orbits and Periodic Times—Colours of the Stars—Stars that have vanished—Variable Stars—Variation in Sun's Light—Parallax and Distances of the Fixed Stars—Masses of the ...
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... stars; and 20,984 years to complete its tropical revolution (N. 69), or to return to the same equinox. The difference between these two periods arises from a retrograde motion in the equinoctial point, which meets the advancing axis ...
... stars; and 20,984 years to complete its tropical revolution (N. 69), or to return to the same equinox. The difference between these two periods arises from a retrograde motion in the equinoctial point, which meets the advancing axis ...
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... stars, comets, or any unknown and unseen bodies, affect our sun and planets, the nodes of this plane will slowly recede on the plane of that immense orbit which the sun may describe about some most distant centre, in a period which it ...
... stars, comets, or any unknown and unseen bodies, affect our sun and planets, the nodes of this plane will slowly recede on the plane of that immense orbit which the sun may describe about some most distant centre, in a period which it ...
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... star is its aberration, which varies in quantity and direction in different parts of the earth's orbit; but, as it is ... stars perfectly corresponds with that given by the eclipses of the first satellite. The same result, obtained from ...
... star is its aberration, which varies in quantity and direction in different parts of the earth's orbit; but, as it is ... stars perfectly corresponds with that given by the eclipses of the first satellite. The same result, obtained from ...
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... stars, and by lunar distances. In consequence of the retrograde motion of the nodes of the lunar orbit, at the rate ... star and planet she meets with in this space. Therefore the occultation of a star by the moon is a phenomenon of ...
... stars, and by lunar distances. In consequence of the retrograde motion of the nodes of the lunar orbit, at the rate ... star and planet she meets with in this space. Therefore the occultation of a star by the moon is a phenomenon of ...
Contents
SECTION XX | |
SECTION XXI | |
SECTION XXII | |
SECTION XXIII | |
SECTION XXIV | |
SECTION XXV | |
SECTION XXVI | |
SECTION XXVII | |
SECTION IX | |
SECTION X | |
SECTION XI | |
SECTION XII | |
SECTION XIII | |
SECTION XIV | |
SECTION XV | |
SECTION XVI | |
SECTION XVII | |
SECTION XVIII | |
SECTION XIX | |
SECTION XXVIII | |
SECTION XXIX | |
SECTION XXX | |
SECTION XXXI | |
SECTION XXXII | |
SECTION XXXIII | |
SECTION XXXIV | |
SECTION XXXV | |
SECTION XXXVI | |
SECTION XXXVII | |
NOTES | |
INDEX | |
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Common terms and phrases
absorbed action appears atmosphere attraction bodies cause centre centrifugal force chemical circular polarization colour comet compression consequently crystals dark David Brewster decrease degree density diamagnetic diameter diminishes direction disturbing earth ecliptic effect electricity equal equator ethereal medium excentricity experiments extremely Fahrenheit force glass globe gravitation greater heat hemisphere increase inequalities intensity Jupiter Jupiter’s latitude length less light lines liquid longitude luminous lunar magnetic mass meridian miles molecules moon moon’s nearly nodal lines nodes nutation observed ocean optic axis orbit oscillations parallax paramagnetic particles passing perigee perihelion periodic perpendicular phenomena planets plate polarized poles position produced proportion quantity rays reflected refraction refrangible retrograde motion revolution revolving right angles rings rotation satellites Saturn Sir John Herschel solar spectrum sound southern hemisphere space stars substances sun’s surface temperature terrestrial tourmaline transmitted undulations Uranus vapour variations velocity vibrations waves wire