Page images
PDF
EPUB

server. This will only happen when the planet, at the time of this conjunction, is in or near its node.

Trine, an aspect where the bodies are at the distance of of the ecliptic or 120°.

Twilight. See Crepusculum.

Venus, the second primary planet from the sun, at the distance of about 68 millions of miles.

Year, a period of time generally considered as comprehending a complete revolution of the seasons. The year

1s variously distinguished, viz.

1. Tropical Solar year, the time in which the sun appears to perform a complete revolution through all the signs of the zodiac = 365d. 5h. 48m. 48s.

2. Sidereal year, the time in which the sun appears to revolve from any fixed star to the same again = 365d. 6h. 9m. 17s. The difference between the tropical and sidereal year (20m. 29s.) is the time of the sun's apparent motion through 50', the arch of annual precession.

=

3. Lunar astronomical year, consists of 12 lunar synodical months 354d. 8h. 48m. 38s. and therefore 10d. 21h. Om. 10s. less than the solar year---a difference which is the foundation of the epact.

4. The common lunar civil year, consists of 12 lunar civil months, = 324 days.

5. The embolismic or intercalary lunar year, consists of 13 lunar civil months = 384 days.

6. The common civil year, contains 365 days, divided into 12 calendar months.

7. Bissextile or leap-year, containing 366 days. See calendar.

Zenith, the upper pole of the horizon.

Zenith-distance of a celestial body, its distance from the zenith, measured on the azimuth-circle passing through the body, and is equal to the complement of the altitude to 90o. Zodiac, a zone or broad circle in the heavens including all the planets, and extending about 10°. on each side of the ecliptic.

Zodiacal light. a pyramidal lucid appearance, sometimes observed in the zodiac, resembling the galaxy, or milky way. It is most plainly observable after the evening twilight about the latter end of February; and before the morning twilight about the beginning of October. For at these times it appears nearly perpendicular to the horizon. This appearance is generally supposed to be occasioned by the sun's atmosphere.

Zone, in astronomical geography, is applied to a division of the earth's surface by certain parallels of latitude. The Zones are 5 in number, viz.

1. The torrid zone, lying between the two tropics. It comprehends the West India Islands, the greater parts of South America and of Africa, the southern parts of Asia, and the East India Islands.

2. The north frigid zone, lying round the north pole, and bounded by the north polar circle. It comprehends part of Greenland, of the northern regions of North America, and a little of the northern parts of Europe and Asia.

3. The south frigid zone, lying round the south pole, and bounded by the south polar circle. It contains no dry land, so far as yet discovered.

4. The north temperate zone, lying between the torrid and north frigid. It comprehends almost the whole of North America, Europe, and Asia, with the northern part of Africa.

5. The south temperate zone, lying between the torrid and south frigid. It comprehends the southern part of South America, of Africa, and of the great island of New- Holland.

In the torrid zone, the sun is vertical twice a year to every part of it, and there is very little diversity in the length of the day throughout the year, the longest day varying only from 12 to about 13 hours. In the temperate zones the sun is never vertical, and the length of the longest day varies from about 13 to 24 hours. In the frigid zones, the length of the longest day (or time between the sun's rising and setting) varies from 24 hours to 6 months.

[graphic]

Table of the Planets' motions, distances, &c.

[blocks in formation]

REMARKS. 1. There is a small variation in the inclination of planets' orbits, the longitude of nodes, the longitude of perihelion, and excentricity of orbits, the amount of which in 100 years is usually inserted in astronomical tables, and termed secular variations.

2. The diameter of the earth being 1. that of the sun will be 111.45 and that of the moon .2731. The density of the sun, (water being 1.) will be 1.1468, and that of moon, 3.339.

3 The inclination of the sun's axis is about 8o, and the time of his rotation about 25 days 6h. 4. The inclination of the moon's orbit to the ecliptic is about 5o 8′, that of her axis about 2o. 18′, and the time of her rotation that of her revolution round the earth.

5. The periodical revolutions in the tables are those termed sidereal, and the distances of the
satellites from their primaries are reckoned in semidiameters of their respective primaries.

6. The orbits of the 1st, 2d, and Sd, satellites of Jupiter are very nearly circular, and coincident
with the orbit of Jupiter: but that of the 4th is very sensibly elliptical, and inclined to the orbit of
Jupiter in an angle of about 1°. 448.

7. The elements of the above Tables are taken chiefly from Laplace and Lalande, the places being calculated for the beginning of the year 1750.

« PreviousContinue »