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Halley’s Method for Calculating the Earth-Sun Distance

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References

  1. Edmond Halley. Methodus singularis qua Solis Parallaxis sive distantia a Terra, ope Veneris intra Sol conspiciende, tuto determinari poterit. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, xxix, (1714–1716), No 348, 454–64.(Vol. xxix was not published until 1717).

  2. James Ferguson. A Plain Method of determining the Parallax of Venus, by her transit over the Sun: and from thence, by analogy, the parallax and distance of the Sun, And all the rest of the Planets. (London. 1761), 15–26.

  3. James Ferguson. Astronomy Explained Upon Sir Isaac Newton’s Principles, and made easy to those who have not studied mathematics. (London. 1756).

  4. C. Hutton, G. Shaw and R. Pearson, eds. Abridged Transactions of the Royal Society, vi, (1809), 243–9.

  5. Thomas Hornsby. A discourse on the Parallax of the Sun. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, liii, (1763), 467–95.

  6. James Short. The Observations of the internal Contact of Venus with the Sun’s Limb, in the late Transit, made in different Places of Europe, compared with the Time of the same Contact observed at the Cape of Good Hope, and the Parallax of the Sun from thence determined. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, lii, Part II, (1762), 611–28.

  7. James Ferguson. A Delineation of the Transit of Venus expected in the Year 1769. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, liii, (1763), 30.

  8. Charles Green and James Cook. Observations made, by appointment of the Royal Society, at King George’s Island. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, lxi, (1771), 397–421.

  9. William Wales and J. Dymond. Astronomical Observations made by order of the Royal Society, at Prince of Wales’ Fort, on the North-West Coast of Hudson’s Bay. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, lix, (1769), 467–88.

  10. Thomas Hornsby. The Quantity of the Sun’s Parallax, as Deduced from the Observations of the Transit of Venus, June 3, 1769. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, lxi, (1771), 574–9.

  11. Jean Meeus. Transits, Willmann-Bell, (1989).

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  1. Merewether Heights, 255 Scenic Drive, NSW, 2291, Australia

    L. W. B. Browne

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  1. L. W. B. Browne
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Correspondence to L. W. B. Browne.

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Communicated by N. Swerdlow

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Browne, L. Halley’s Method for Calculating the Earth-Sun Distance. Arch. Hist. Exact Sci. 59, 251–266 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00407-004-0091-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00407-004-0091-8

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