Letters on Astronomy: In which the Elements of the Science are Familialry[!] Explained in Connection with Biographical Sketches of the Most Eminent Astronomers |
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Letters on Astronomy in Which the Elements of the Science Are Familiarly ... Olmsted Denison No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
angle appear ascertain astronomers atmosphere attraction axis called celestial celestial sphere centre circle comet conjunction constellation degrees diameter direction discovery disk distance diurnal motion doctrine double stars earth ecliptic equal equator equinox exhibit fact fixed stars force Galileo globe gravity greater greatest half Halley's comet heavenly bodies heavens Hence Herschel horizon inferior conjunction inferior planets instrument Jupiter Kepler latitude laws length less light longitude lunar lunar eclipse magnitude measure Mercury meridian meteors millions of miles minutes moon moon's motion move nearer nearly node objects observations opposite orbit parallax passing perihelion period phenomena planetary planets pole respect revolve right ascension ring round satellites Saturn seen shadow Sheep extra side solar system space spectator sphere sun's superior planets supposed surface tance telescope thousand tides tion Tycho Tycho Brahe universal gravitation Uranus velocity Venus visible west to east
Popular passages
Page 195 - Less than archangel ruined, and the excess Of glory obscured ; as when the sun, new risen, Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon, In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs.
Page 36 - He scarce had ceased, when the superior fiend Was moving toward the shore : his ponderous shield, Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast ; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views, At evening, from the top of Fesole, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.
Page 69 - Then stay'd the fervid wheels, and in his hand He took the golden compasses, prepared In God's eternal store, to circumscribe This universe, and all created things: One foot he centred, and the other turn'd Round through the vast profundity obscure, And said, ' Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, This be thy just circumference, O world!
Page 126 - What though, in solemn silence, all Move round the dark terrestrial ball; What though no real voice nor sound Amid their radiant orbs be found; In reason's ear they all rejoice, And utter forth a glorious voice, For ever singing as they shine, The hand that made us is divine.
Page 181 - As when the moon, refulgent lamp of night, O'er Heaven's clear azure spreads her sacred light, When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, And not a cloud o'ercasts the solemn scene ; Around her throne the vivid planets roll, And stars unnumber'd gild the glowing pole, O'er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed, And tip with silver every mountain's head...
Page 291 - God of the rolling orbs above ! Thy name is written clearly bright In the warm day's unvarying blaze, Or evening's golden shower of light. For every fire that fronts the sun, And every spark that walks alone Around the utmost verge of heaven, Were kindled at thy burning throne.
Page 101 - As home he goes beneath the joyous moon. Ye that keep watch in heaven, as earth asleep Unconscious lies, effuse your mildest beams, Ye constellations, while your angels strike, Amid the spangled sky, the silver lyre. Great source of day ! best image here below Of thy Creator, ever pouring wide, From world to world, the vital ocean round, On nature write with every beam His praise.
Page 406 - Philosophy, baptized In the pure fountain of eternal love, Has eyes indeed ; and, viewing all she sees As meant to indicate a God to man, Gives him his praise, and forfeits not her own.
Page 341 - when the comet of 1680 will fall into the sun; possibly after five or six revolutions; but whenever that time shall arrive, the heat of the sun will be raised by it to such a point, that our globe will be burnt, and all the animals upon it will perish.