The description and use of the globes and the orrery: To which is prefix'd, by way of introduction, a brief account of the solar systemHarris, Joseph
History
The description and use of the globes and the orrery: To which is prefix'd, by way of introduction, a brief account of the solar system
Harris, Joseph
Astronomical models; Globes
If we elevate the globe still higher, the circle of _perpetual
Apparition_ will be nearer the equator, as will that of _perpetual
Occultation_ on the other side. For example, Let us rectify the globe
for the latitude of 80 degrees North: when the Sun’s declination is 10
degrees North; he begins to turn above the horizon without setting;
and all the while he is making his progress from this point to the
tropic of ♋, and back again, he never sets. After the same manner, when
his declination is 10 degrees South, he is just seen at noon in the
horizon; and all the while he is going Southward, and back again, he
disappears, being hid just so long as before, at the opposite time of
the year he appeared visible.
Let us now bring the North Pole into the Zenith, then will the
equinoctial coincide with the horizon; and consequently all the
Northern parallels are above the horizon, and all the Southern ones
below it. Here is but one day and one night throughout the year, it
being day all the while the Sun is to the Northward of the equinoctial,
and night for the other half year. All the Stars that have North
declination, always appear above the horizon, and at the same height;
and all those that are on the other side, are never seen.
What has been here said of rectifying the globe to North latitude,
holds for the same latitude South; only that before the longest days
were, when the Sun was in ♋, the same happening now when the Sun is
in ♑; and so of the rest of the parallels, the seasons being directly
opposite to those who live in different hemispheres.
I shall again explain some things delivered above in general terms, by
particular problems.
But from what has been already said, we may first make the following
observations:
1. _All places of the Earth do equally enjoy the benefit of the Sun, in
respect of time, and are equally deprived of it, the Days at one time
of the Year, being exactly equal to the Nights at the opposite season._
2. _In all places of the Earth, save exactly under the Poles, the Days
and Nights are of equal length_ (viz. _12 hours each) when the Sun is
in the equinoctial._
3. _Those who live under the equinoctial, have the days and nights of
equal lengths at all times of the year._
4. _In all places between the equinoctial and the Poles, the days and
nights are never equal, but when the Sun is in the equinoctial points_
♈ _and_ ♎.
5. _The nearer any place is to the equator, the less is the difference
between the length of the artificial days and nights in the said place;
and the more remote the greater._
6. _To all the inhabitants lying under the same parallel of latitudes
the days and nights are of equal lengths, and that at all times of the
year._
7. _The Sun is vertical twice a year to all places between the tropics;
to those under the tropics, once a year; but never any where else._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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