A Complete System of Astronomy, Volume 2G. Woodfall, 1814 |
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Common terms and phrases
2MEC 2NEC addititious force altitude angle Annual Preces aphelion apogee apsides Aquarii Arietis ascending node Ascension Annual Variat Astronomy attraction axis body Cancri Capricorni centrifugal force Ceti circle correction cosine declination Degrees density described diameter disturbing force earth ecliptic ellipse EN³ equal equation equinoxes excentricity fixed stars fluent fluxion force varies Geminorum gravity hence HIPPARCHUS inclination inversely Jupiter latitude Leonis Libræ longitude Magnitude ME² mean distance mean motion meridian moon moon's node nearly North polar Distance Numb nutation obliquity observations Ophiuchi orbit Orionis parallax perpendicular Piscium planets pole precession PRINCIPAL STARS projection PTOLEMY quadratures quantity of matter radius ratio retrograde motion revolution revolve Right Ascension Annual Sagittarii Scorpii Second Difference sine spheroid subtracted sun and moon sun's supposed syzygies TABLE Tauri tion true true anomaly velocity Venus Virginis whole
Popular passages
Page 121 - D'Alembert, was the Precession of the equinoxes and the Nutation of the earth's axis, according to the theory of gravitation.
Page 125 - ... proves likewise, that if there be a gradual diminution of the obliquity of the ecliptic, it does not arise only from an alteration in the position of the earth's axis, but rather from some change in the plane of the ecliptic itself ; because the stars, at the end of the period of the moon's nodes, appeared in the same places, with respect to the equator, as they ought to have done, if the earth's axis had retained the same inclination to an invariable plane.
Page 121 - ... moves round p, in the circumference ABCD, with a retrograde motion likewise, in a period of the moon's nodes, or of 18 years, and 7 months. By this means, when the moon's ascending node is in Aries, and the true pole of the equator at A, is moving from A towards B ; it will approach the stars that come to the meridian with the sun about the vernal equinox, and recede from those that come with the sun near the autumnal equinox, faster than the mean pole p does.
Page 13 - Now if the sphere were evanescent in magnitude, with the same quantity of matter, the attraction would be the same, it being independent of a. Hence, the attraction of a corpuscle to a sphere is just the same as if all the matter of the sphere were collected into its centre.
Page 289 - The disappearance of some stars may be the destruction of that system at the time appointed by the Deity for the probation of its inhabitants, and the appearance of new stars may be the formation of new systems for new races of beings then called into existence to adore the works of their Creator."* The late Dr.
Page 225 - The day in which the moon passes the equator, the water stagnates there without any motion: as the moon removes from the equator, the water begins to rise and fall once a day ; and it is high water at the setting of the moon, and low water at her rising. This daily tide increases for about seven or eight days, and then decreases...
Page 13 - ... the sun by a force which varies inversely as the square of the distance...
Page 272 - ... demonstrated respecting motion in circular orbits. The planets then and their satellites being known by Kepler's laws to move in elliptical orbits, and to describe round the sun in one focus areas proportional to the times by their radii vectores drawn to that focus, and it being further found by those laws that the squares of their periodic times are as...
Page 289 - ... for enjoyment, ought to make us very thankful and humble before him. And that every being in the universe should be under his care, and training up here for the further enjoyment of him hereafter, is a thought, which, if duly impressed, would penetrate us with the deepest sense of gratitude to our Creator, and excite us to love and obedience. The disappearance of some stars may be the destruction of...