THE PLANETARIUM. AND ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATOR, Containing the Distances, Diameters, Periodical and Diurnal Revolu- BY TOBIAS OSTRANDER, TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS, AND AUTHOR OF THE ELEMENTS OF NUMBERS, EASY INSTRUCTOR, MATHEMATICAL EXPOSITOR, &C. "Consult with reason, reason will reply, "Each lucid point, which glows in yonder sky, "With beams unborrow'd brightens other skies, LYONS:- PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE WESTERN ARGUS, 1832. B E it remembered, that on the sixteenth day of July, Anno Do 1832, TOBIAS OSTRANDER of the said district, hath deposi this office the title of a book, the title of which is in the words follo to wit: The Planetarium and Astronomical Calculator, containing the D ces, Diameters, Periodical and Diurnal Revolutions of all the Plan the Solar system, with the Diameters of their Satellites, their dista from, and the periods of their Revolutions around their respective P ries; together with the method of calculating those Distances, Diam and Revolutions; and the method of calculating Solar and Lunar Eclip being a compilation from various celebrated authors, with Notes, E ples and Interrogations; prepared for the use of Schools and Acade By TOAIAS OSTRANDER, Teacher of Mathematics, and author o Elements of Numbers, Easy Instructor, Mathematical Expositor, & "Consult with reason, reason will reply, "Each lucid point which glows in yonder sky, "And worlds, to thee unknown, with heat and life supplies." The right whereof he claims as Compiler and Proprietor, in con ity with an act of Congress, entitled an Act to amend the several A respecting Copy Rights. RUTGER B. MILLER, Clerk of the Northern District of New-Yo PREFACE. t IN presenting the following pages to the public, I will briefly remark, that the people generally are grossly ignorant in the important and engaging science of Astronomy. Scarcely one in a county is found capable of calculating with exactness, and accuracy the precise time of an eclipse, or conjunction and opposition of the Sun and Moon. Is it for lack of abilities? No.There are no people on the surface of this terraqueous globe, who possess better natural faculties of acquiring knowledge of any description, than those who inhabit the United States of America. In this land of liberty, much has been done, and much still remains to be done, for the benefit of the rising generation. Schools, Academies and Colleges have been erected, for the purpose of facilitating, and extending information and instruction among the youth of this delightful section. Gentlemen possessing the most profound abilities and acquirements, have engaged in the truly laudable employment of disseminating a knowledge of all the sciences; both of useful and ornamental description. Still this branch of the Mathematical science, called Astronomy, has been almost totally neglected, especially among the common people. From what source has this originated? I answer, from a scarcity of books, well calcu |