The sidereal messenger of Galileo Galilei : $b and a part of the preface to Kepler's Dioptrics containing the original account of Galileo's astronomical discoveriesGalilei, Galileo
History
The sidereal messenger of Galileo Galilei : $b and a part of the preface to Kepler's Dioptrics containing the original account of Galileo's astronomical discoveries
Galilei, Galileo
Astronomy -- Early works to 1800; Jupiter (Planet) -- Satellites
Jan. 24.—Three satellites, all on the east side, were visible, and
nearly, but not quite, in the same straight line with Jupiter, for the
satellite in the middle was slightly to the south of it (Fig. 23). The
satellite nearest to Jupiter was 2´ distant from the planet; the next
in order 0´ 30´´ from this satellite, and the third was 9´ further off
still; they were all very bright. But at the sixth hour two satellites
only presented themselves to view in this position, namely in the same
straight line with Jupiter exactly, and the distance of the nearest
to the planet was lengthened to 3´; the next was 2´ further off, and
unless I am mistaken, the two satellites previously observed in the
middle had come together, and appeared as one.
Jan. 25, at 1 h. 40 m., the satellites were grouped thus (Fig. 24).
There were only two satellites on the east side, and these were rather
large. The satellite furthest to the east was 5´ from the satellite in
the middle, and it was 6´ from Jupiter.
Jan. 26, at 0 h. 40 m., the relative positions of the satellites were
thus (Fig. 25). Three satellites were in view, of which two were
east and the third west of Jupiter; this one was distant 3´ from the
planet. On the east side the satellite in the middle was at a distance
of 5´ 20´´; the further satellite was 6´ beyond; they were arranged
in a straight line, and were of the same size. At the fifth hour the
arrangement was nearly the same, with this difference only, that the
fourth satellite was emerging on the east side near Jupiter. It was
smaller than the rest, and was then at a distance of 0´ 30´´ from
Jupiter; but was raised a little above the straight line towards the
north, as the accompanying figure shows (Fig. 26).
Jan. 27, 1 h. after sunset, a single satellite only was in view, and
that on the east side of Jupiter in this position (Fig. 27). It was
very small, and at a distance of 7´ from Jupiter.
Jan. 28 and 29.—Owing to the intervention of clouds, I could make no
observation.
Jan. 30.—At the first hour of the night the satellites were in view,
arranged in the following way (Fig. 28). There was one satellite on
the east side, at a distance of 2´ 30´´ from Jupiter; and there were
two satellites on the west, of which the one nearer to Jupiter was
3´ off the planet, and the other satellite 1´ further. The places of
the outer satellites and Jupiter were in the same straight line; but
the satellite in the middle was a little above it to the north. The
satellite furthest to the west was smaller than the rest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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