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The Study of Astronomy, adapted to the capacities of youth: In twelve familiar dialogues, between a tutor and his pupil: explaining the general phænomena of the heavenly bodies, the theory of the tides, &c. — John Shaqi

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The Study of Astronomy, adapted to the capacities of youth: In twelve familiar dialogues, between a tutor and his pupil: explaining the general phænomena of the heavenly bodies, the theory of the tides, &c.

Name: The Study of Astronomy, adapted to the capacities of youth: In twelve familiar dialogues, between a tutor and his pupil: explaining the general phænomena of the heavenly bodies, the theory of the tides, &c.
Author: Stedman, John, teacher of astronomy

Stedman, John, teacher of astronomy

Astronomy -- Juvenile literature -- Early works to 1800

TUTOR. And, on the sun’s disc, she would appear a dark round spot,
passing over it. These appearances, which are called transits, happen
very seldom: because she is very seldom in or near her nodes at her
inferior conjunctions. There was one in June 1761, one in June 1769; and
the next will be in the year 1874. And as Mercury is seen in the same
manner, it is a proof that their orbits must be within that of the
earth.

PUPIL. I thank you, Sir, and shall be obliged to you to inform me how
many constellations the earth pastes over in every revolution?

TUTOR. Twelve, which correspond with the months of the year, and are
called the twelve signs of the zodiac.

PUPIL. What is the zodiac?

TUTOR. That part of the heavens which contains the twelve signs, and
which you may conceive to be a zone or belt extending eight degrees on
each side the ecliptic, in which the planets constantly revolve: so that
no planet is ever seen more than eight degrees either north or south,
that is above or below the ecliptic.

PUPIL. What am I to understand by a degree?

TUTOR. All circles, whether great or small, are supposed to be divided
into 360 equal parts, called degrees, and each degree into 60 equal
parts, called minutes: therefore, if I speak of a circle in the heavens,
the circumference of the earth, or any other circle, by a degree is
meant the 360th part of that circle; and a minute the 60th part of a
degree.

PUPIL. What are the names of the twelve signs?

TUTOR. The first is called Aries, which you know signifies a Ram;
Taurus, the Bull; Gemini, the Twins; Cancer, the Crab; Leo, the Lion;
Virgo, the Virgin; Libra, the Balance; Scorpio, the Scorpion;
Sagittarius, the Archer; Capricorn, the Goat; Aquarius, the
Water-bearer; and Pisces, the Fishes.

PUPIL. Do you wish me to commit these to memory, Sir?

TUTOR. It is very requisite; but as I know you are fond of verse, you
shall hear what Doctor Watts says—

                 The Ram, the Bull, the heav’nly Twins,
                 And next the Crab the Lion shines,
                   The Virgin, and the Scales:
                 The Scorpion, Archer, and Sea-goat,
                 The Man that holds the Water-pot,
                   And Fish with glitt’ring tails.

PUPIL. I like it much, as it will assist my memory.

TUTOR. As the twelve signs correspond with the months of the year, the
earth must pass over nearly one degree every day, one sign every month,
and in twelve months complete a whole circle, or 360 degrees; therefore
every sign must contain 30 degrees, because 30 multiplied by 12 is equal
to 360.

PUPIL. It must be so.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Study of Astronomy, adapted to the capacities of youth: In twelve familiar dialogues, between a tutor and his pupil: explaining the general phænomena of the heavenly bodies, the theory of the tides, &c.

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