Philosophy
The Transit of Venus has been all over the news recently, mainly because this is the last opportunity to see it for virtually everyone who is alive today. The next one will not occur until 2117.
But do you know its historical and scientific importance? That's right, this isn't just a pretty light show. Over the last four hundred years, this rare occurrence held the key to determine the size of our solar system, and as the following primer shows, the individual pieces required to put the whole together spanned the gamut of scientific and mathematical thinking, and involved some incredible minds:
But this general idea goes far beyond merely determining the size of an astronomical unit: it can be used to detect and measure planets in other solar systems too:
And here it is, in all its spectacular beauty, footage of the 2012 Transit of Venus:
- Measuring The Universe
If you read/watched our recent entry on the majesty, beauty and scientific importance behind the Transit of Venus, you may have come to realize that scientists are a clever bunch: give them two or three things, and they'll give you a whole world full...
- Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov's Paper On Venus' Atmosphere
Key figure of Russian Enlightenment, polymath Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov (1711—1765) had discovered atmosphere of Venus during its transit over the Sun’s disc in 1761. This paper contains the first full English translation of his report (originally...
- Vintage Astronomy Texts
Some nostalgic, vintage astronomy texts... Aristotle On the Heavens Ball, R. S. Great Astronomers Bethe, Hans "Supernovae" Brahe, Tycho Astronomicall Coniectur [A New Star] Copernicus, Nicolaus De Revolutionibus Orbium...
- James Ferguson...significant Scottish Astronomer
James Ferguson April 25th, 1710 to November 17th, 1776 Astronomy Explained Upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles and Made Easy to Those Who Have Not Studied Mathematics This is a detail from a large folding plate in James Ferguson's Astronomy...
- Colonial America--david Rittenhouse Astronomer
David Rittenhouse April 8th, 1732 to June 26th, 1796 He and George Washington probably had a beer or two at the remodeled old King George Inn. [renamed The Philly Bar and Grill]. He, for the most part, was self educated and did some remarkable work in...
Philosophy
The Transit of Venus
But do you know its historical and scientific importance? That's right, this isn't just a pretty light show. Over the last four hundred years, this rare occurrence held the key to determine the size of our solar system, and as the following primer shows, the individual pieces required to put the whole together spanned the gamut of scientific and mathematical thinking, and involved some incredible minds:
But this general idea goes far beyond merely determining the size of an astronomical unit: it can be used to detect and measure planets in other solar systems too:
And here it is, in all its spectacular beauty, footage of the 2012 Transit of Venus:
- Measuring The Universe
If you read/watched our recent entry on the majesty, beauty and scientific importance behind the Transit of Venus, you may have come to realize that scientists are a clever bunch: give them two or three things, and they'll give you a whole world full...
- Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov's Paper On Venus' Atmosphere
Key figure of Russian Enlightenment, polymath Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov (1711—1765) had discovered atmosphere of Venus during its transit over the Sun’s disc in 1761. This paper contains the first full English translation of his report (originally...
- Vintage Astronomy Texts
Some nostalgic, vintage astronomy texts... Aristotle On the Heavens Ball, R. S. Great Astronomers Bethe, Hans "Supernovae" Brahe, Tycho Astronomicall Coniectur [A New Star] Copernicus, Nicolaus De Revolutionibus Orbium...
- James Ferguson...significant Scottish Astronomer
James Ferguson April 25th, 1710 to November 17th, 1776 Astronomy Explained Upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles and Made Easy to Those Who Have Not Studied Mathematics This is a detail from a large folding plate in James Ferguson's Astronomy...
- Colonial America--david Rittenhouse Astronomer
David Rittenhouse April 8th, 1732 to June 26th, 1796 He and George Washington probably had a beer or two at the remodeled old King George Inn. [renamed The Philly Bar and Grill]. He, for the most part, was self educated and did some remarkable work in...