XII. On the determination of the photometric intensity of the coronal light during the solar eclipse of April 16th, 1893

Keyword(s):  

In the Introduction to our paper “On the Determination of the Photometric Intensity of the Coronal Light during the Solar Eclipse of August 28th, 1886,” which the Society did us the honour to print in the ‘Philosophical Transactions’ (A, 1889, p. 363), we gave an account of the attempts which had been made from time to time since the eclipse of December 22, 1870, the first occasion on which such measurements were made, to ascertain the amount of light emitted by the corona. So far as we know no other attempt of the kind has been made since the date of our last paper. We may therefore at once pass to the description of the methods adopted on the present occasion. The methods, as well as the instruments, used by us for the measurement of the coronal light during the eclipse of April 16th, 1893, were substantially the same as those employed in Grenada during the eclipse of August 28th, 1886, with certain modifications suggested by our experience on that occasion. For an account of the principle of these methods, as well as for the description of the instruments them­selves, we may refer to the paper above cited. It will suffice here to say that one instrument was designed to measure the comparative brightness of the corona at different distances from the moon’s limb, whilst a second was arranged to measure the total brightness of the corona, excluding as far as possible the sky effect. The first instrument, from the mode in which it was constructed, will be called the equatorial photometer; the second will be termed the integrating photometer. In both cases the principle of photometry adopted was that of Bunsen, the intensity of the coronal light being compared with that of a glow-lamp, according to the method of Abney and Festing (‘Phil. Trans.,’ 1886, ‘ Proc. Boy. Soc.,’ 1887, 43). In the case of the equatorial photometer, a telescope by Simms, lent by the Astronomer-Royal, was employed. It had an aperture of 6 inches and the object-glass had a focal length of 78 inches, forming an image of the moon 0.76 inch in diameter. The image was received on a circular white screen contained in the photometer-box and placed in the focus of the object-glass. In the centre of the screen was traced a circle of the diameter of the image of the moon, and during the observation the moons disc was made to fall exactly within the circle.

1887 ◽  
Vol 42 (251-257) ◽  
pp. 180-182

The instrument entrusted to me by the Eclipse Expedition was similar to that employed in Egypt during the eclipse of 1882. The equatoreal stand carried three cameras, one of which was intended for direct photographs of the corona, while the two others were attached to spectroscopes. Photographs of the Corona .—The lens had an aperture of 4 inches, and a focal length of 5 feet 3 inches; giving images of the moon having a diameter of about 0·6 of an inch.


1967 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. 281-285
Author(s):  
H. C. Freiesleben

It has recently been suggested that 24-hour satellites might be used as navigational aids. To what category of position determination aids should these be assigned ? Is a satellite of this kind as it were a landmark, because, at least in theory, it remains fixed over the same point on the Earth's surface, in which case it should be classified under land-based navigation aids ? Is it a celestial body, although only one tenth as far from the Earth as the Moon ? If so, it is an astronomical navigation aid. Or is it a radio aid ? After all, its use for position determination depends on radio waves. In this paper I shall favour this last view. For automation is most feasible when an object of observation can be manipulated. This is easiest with radio aids, but it is, of course, impossible with natural stars.At present artificial satellites have the advantage over all other radio aids of world-wide coverage.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S260) ◽  
pp. 514-521
Author(s):  
Ilias M. Fernini

AbstractThe Islamic society has great ties to astronomy. Its main religious customs (start of the Islamic month, direction of prayer, and the five daily prayers) are all related to two main celestial objects: the Sun and the Moon. First, the start of any Islamic month is related to the actual seeing of the young crescent after the new Moon. Second, the direction of prayer, i.e., praying towards Mecca, is related to the determination of the zenith point in Mecca. Third, the proper time for the five daily prayers is related to the motion of the Sun. Everyone in the society is directly concerned by these customs. This is to say that the major impetus for the growth of Islamic astronomy came from these three main religious observances which presented an assortment of problems in mathematical astronomy. To observe these three customs, a new set of astronomical observations were needed and this helped the development of the Islamic observatory. There is a claim that it was first in Islam that the astronomical observatory came into real existence. The Islamic observatory was a product of needs and values interwoven into the Islamic society and culture. It is also considered as a true representative and an integral par of the Islamic civilisation. Since astronomy interested not only men of science, but also the rulers of the Islamic empire, several observatories have flourished. The observatories of Baghdad, Cairo, Córdoba, Toledo, Maragha, Samarqand and Istanbul acquired a worldwide reputation throughout the centuries. This paper will discuss the two most important observatories (Maragha and Samarqand) in terms of their instruments and discoveries that contributed to the establishment of these scientific institutions.


Nature ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 212 (5059) ◽  
pp. 271-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. GOUDAS ◽  
Z. KOPAL ◽  
Z. KOPAL
Keyword(s):  

Vestnik MGSU ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. 140-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksey Alekseevich Loktev ◽  
Daniil Alekseevich Loktev

In modern integrated monitoring systems and systems of automated control of technological processes there are several essential algorithms and procedures for obtaining primary information about an object and its behavior. The primary information is characteristics of static and moving objects: distance, speed, position in space etc. In order to obtain such information in the present work we proposed to use photos and video detectors that could provide the system with high-quality images of the object with high resolution. In the modern systems of video monitoring and automated control there are several ways of obtaining primary data on the behaviour and state of the studied objects: a multisensor approach (stereovision), building an image perspective, the use of fixed cameras and additional lighting of the object, and a special calibration of photo or video detector.In the present paper the authors develop a method of determining the distances to objects by analyzing a series of images using depth evaluation using defocusing. This method is based on the physical effect of the dependence of the determined distance to the object on the image from the focal length or aperture of the lens. When focusing the photodetector on the object at a certain distance, the other objects both closer and farther than a focal point, form a spot of blur depending on the distance to them in terms of images. Image blur of an object can be of different nature, it may be caused by the motion of the object or the detector, by the nature of the image boundaries of the object, by the object’s aggregate state, as well as by different settings of the photo-detector (focal length, shutter speed and aperture).When calculating the diameter of the blur spot it is assumed that blur at the point occurs equally in all directions. For more precise estimates of the geometrical parameters determination of the behavior and state of the object under study a statistical approach is used to determine the individual parameters and estimate their accuracy. A statistical approach is used to evaluate the deviation of the dependence of distance from the blur from different types of standard functions (logarithmic, exponential, linear). In the statistical approach the evaluation method of least squares and the method of least modules are included, as well as the Bayesian estimation, for which it is necessary to minimize the risks under different loss functions (quadratic, rectangular, linear) with known probability density (we consider normal, lognormal, Laplace, uniform distribution). As a result of the research it was established that the error variance of a function, the parameters of which are estimated using the least squares method, will be less than the error variance of the method of least modules, that is, the evaluation method of least squares is more stable. Also the errors’ estimation when using the method of least squares is unbiased, whereas the mathematical expectation when using the method of least modules is not zero, which indicates the displacement of error estimations. Therefore it is advisable to use the least squares method in the determination of the parameters of the function.In order to smooth out the possible outliers we use the Kalman filter to process the results of the initial observations and evaluation analysis, the method of least squares and the method of least three standard modules for the functions after applying the filter with different coefficients.


2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-146
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Tomic

Newton's formula for gravity force gives greather force intensity for atraction of the Moon by the Sun than atraction by the Earth. However, central body in lunar (primary) orbit is the Earth. So appeared paradox which were ignored from competent specialist, because the most important problem, determination of lunar orbit, was inmediately solved sufficiently by mathematical ingeniosity - introducing the Sun as dominant body in the three body system by Delaunay, 1860. On this way the lunar orbit paradox were not canceled. Vujicic made a owerview of principles of mechanics in year 1998, in critical consideration. As an example for application of corrected procedure he was obtained gravity law in some different form, which gave possibility to cancel paradox of lunar orbit. The formula of Vujicic, with our small adaptation, content two type of acceleration - related to inertial mass and related to gravity mass. So appears carried information on the origin of the Moon, and paradox cancels.


1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Milbrath

AbstractAztec images of decapitated goddesses link the symbolism of astronomy with politics and the seasonal cycle. Rituals reenacting decapitation may refer to lunar events in the context of a solar calendar, providing evidence of a luni-solar calendar. Decapitation imagery also involves metaphors expressing the rivalry between the cults of the sun and the moon. Huitzilopochtli's decapitation of Coyolxauhqui can be interpreted as a symbol of political conquest linked to the triumph of the sun over the moon. Analysis of Coyolxauhqui's imagery and mythology indicates that she represents the full moon eclipsed by the sun. Details of the decapitation myth indicate specific links with seasonal transition and events taking place at dawn and at midnight. Other decapitated goddesses, often referred to as earth goddesses with “lunar connections,” belong to a complex of lunar deities representing the moon within the earth (the new moon). Cihuacoatl, a goddess of the new moon, takes on threatening quality when she assumes the form of a tzitzimime attacking the sun during a solar eclipse. The demonic new moon was greatly feared, for it could cause an eternal solar eclipse bringing the Aztec world to an end.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document