Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 1: Containing a collection of some of the principal phaenomena in nature, accounted for by the greatest philosophers of this age
History
Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 1: Containing a collection of some of the principal phaenomena in nature, accounted for by the greatest philosophers of this age
Natural history; Science -- Early works to 1800; Voyages and travels -- Early works to 1800
The Annual Equation of the Sun's Centre being given, the three other
corresponding Annual Equations will be also given; and therefore a Table
of that will serve for all. For if the Annual Equation of the Sun's
Centre be taken from thence, for any Time, and be call'd P, and let
1/10P = Q, Q + 1/60Q = R, 1/6P = D, D + 1/30D = E, and D - 1/50D = 2F;
then shall the Annual Equation of the Moon's mean Motion for that time
be R, that of the Apogee of the Moon will be E, and that of the Node F.
Only observe here, That if the Equation of the Sun's Centre be required
to be added; then the Equation of the Moon's mean Motion must be
subtracted, that of her Apogee must be added, and that of the Node
subducted, And on the contrary, if the Equation of the Sun's Centre were
to be subducted, the Moon's Equation must be added, the Equation of her
Apogee subducted, and that of her Node added.
There is also an _Equation of the Moon's mean Motion_, depending on the
situation of her Apogee, in respect of the Sun; which is greatest when
the Moon's Apogee is in an Octant with the Sun, and is nothing at all
when it is in the Quadratures or Syzygys. This Equation, when greatest,
and the Sun in _Perigæo_, is 3 Minutes, 56 Seconds. But if the Sun be in
_Apogæo_, it will never be above 3 Minutes, 34 Seconds. At other
Distances of the Sun from the Earth, this Equation, when greatest, is
reciprocally as the Cube of such Distance. But when the Moon's Apogee is
any where but in the _Octants_, this Equation grows less, and is mostly
at the same distance between the Earth and Sun, as the Sine of the
double Distance of the Moon's Apogee, from the next Quadrature or
Syzygy, to the Radius.
This is to be added to the Moon's Motion, while her Apogee passes from a
Quadrature with the Sun to a Syzygy; but this is to be subtracted from
it, while the Apogee moves from the Syzygy to the Quadrature.
There is moreover another _Equation of the Moon's Motion_, which depends
on the Aspect of the Nodes of the Moon's Orbit with the Sun: And this is
greatest, when her Nodes are in _Octants_ to the Sun, and vanishes
quite, when they come to their Quadratures or Syzygys. This Equation is
proportional to the Sine of the double Distance of the Node from the
next Syzygy, or Quadrature; and at greatest, is but 47 seconds. This
must be added to the Moon's mean Motion, while the Nodes are passing
from their Syzygys with the Sun, to their Quadratures with him; but
subtracted while they pass from the Quadratures to the Syzygys.
From the Sun's true Place, take the equated mean Motion of the Lunar
Apogee, as was above shew'd, the Remainder will be the Annual Argument
of the said Apogee. From whence the _Eccentricity of the Moon_, and the
_second Equation_ of her Apogee may be computed after the manner of the
following (_which takes place also in the Computation of any other
intermediate Equations_).
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