The Olympic Competition of Thomas Digges: The measurement of parallax and the development of observational methods in astronomy
A few months after the appearance of the supernova SN1572, Thomas Digges wrote a Latin book entitled Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae… in which he presented new methods for measuring small parallax angles like those expected for planets and other objects at similar distances. On the basis of our new translation into English of some sections of this book, we point out several relevant innovations developed by Digges. These concern the accuracy of astronomical measurements and a discussion on the origin of observational and computational errors. Furthermore, Digges introduced a simple but effective method for the falsification of observational results, which was useful for disproving some incorrect claims reported by other observers. It is also clear that Digges is completely disinterested in the astrological implications of this unexpected celestial phenomenon.
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Work Title The Olympic Competition of Thomas Digges: The measurement of parallax and the development of observational methods in astronomy Access Creators - Enrico Massaro
- Annarita Pizzo
- Peter D. Usher
Keyword - History of astronomy
- Copernican system
- individual astronomer
- Thomas Digges
License CC BY-NC 4.0 (Attribution-NonCommercial) Work Type Article Publisher - Galilæana
Publication Date October 29, 2024 Subject - History of Astronomy
Language - English
Publisher Identifier (DOI) - https://doi.org/10.57617/gal-43
Related URLs Deposited September 15, 2024 Versions
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Updated Keyword, Subject, Language, and 2 more Show ChangesKeywordSubject
- History of astronomy, Copernican system, individual astronomer, Thomas Digges
Language- History of Astronomy
Description- English
Publication Date- few months after the appearance of the supernova SN1572, Thomas Digges wrote a Latin book entitled Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae… in which he presented new methods for measuring small parallax angles like those expected for planets and other objects at similar distances.
- On the basis of our new translation into English of some sections of this book, we point out several relevant innovations developed by Digges. These concern the accuracy of astronomical measurements and a discussion on the origin of observational and computational errors. Furthermore, Digges introduced a simple but effective method for the falsification of observational results, which was useful for disproving some incorrect claims reported by other observers. It is also clear that Digges is completely disinterested in the astrological implications of this unexpected celestial phenomenon.
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Added Creator Enrico Massaro
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Added Creator Enrico Massaro
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Added Creator Annarita Pizzo
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Added Creator Peter D. Usher
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few months after the appearance of the supernova SN1572, Thomas Digges wrote a Latin book entitled Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae… in which he presented new methods for measuring small parallax angles like those expected for planets and other objects at similar distances.- A few months after the appearance of the supernova SN1572, Thomas Digges wrote a Latin book entitled Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae… in which he presented new methods for measuring small parallax angles like those expected for planets and other objects at similar distances.
- On the basis of our new translation into English of some sections of this book, we point out several relevant innovations developed by Digges. These concern the accuracy of astronomical measurements and a discussion on the origin of observational and computational errors. Furthermore, Digges introduced a simple but effective method for the falsification of observational results, which was useful for disproving some incorrect claims reported by other observers. It is also clear that Digges is completely disinterested in the astrological implications of this unexpected celestial phenomenon.
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
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Updated Publisher Identifier (DOI), Description, Related URLs, and 1 more Show ChangesPublisher Identifier (DOI)Description
- https://doi.org/10.57617/gal-43
Related URLsA few months after the appearance of the supernova SN1572, Thomas Digges wrote a Latin book entitled Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae… in which he presented new methods for measuring small parallax angles like those expected for planets and other objects at similar distances.- A few months after the appearance of the supernova SN1572, Thomas Digges wrote a Latin book entitled _Alae seu Scalae Mathematicae_… in which he presented new methods for measuring small parallax angles like those expected for planets and other objects at similar distances.
- On the basis of our new translation into English of some sections of this book, we point out several relevant innovations developed by Digges. These concern the accuracy of astronomical measurements and a discussion on the origin of observational and computational errors. Furthermore, Digges introduced a simple but effective method for the falsification of observational results, which was useful for disproving some incorrect claims reported by other observers. It is also clear that Digges is completely disinterested in the astrological implications of this unexpected celestial phenomenon.
Publication Date- https://gal-studies.museogalileo.it/index.php/galilaeana/article/view/43
2024- 2024-10-29
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- Galilæana
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