THE

PLANETARIUM,

AND

ASTRONOMICAL CALCULATOR,

Containing the Distances, Diameters, Periodical and Diurnal Revolu☐
tions of all the Planets in the Solar System, with the Diameters of their
Satellites, their distances from, and the periods of their Revolutions
around their respectivc Primaries ; together with the method of calcula➡
ting those Distances, Diameters and Revolutions. Also the method of
calculating Solar and Lunar Eclipses; being a compilation from various
celebrated authors, with Notes, Examples and Interrogations; prepared
for the use of Schools and Academies.

BY

TOBIAS OSTRANDER,

TEACHER OF MATHEMATICS,

AND

AUTHOR OF THE ELEMENTS OF NUMBERS, EASY INSTRUCTOR,

MATHEMATICAL EXPOSITOR, &C.

"Consult with reason, reason will reply,

"Each lucid point, which glows in yonder sky,
"Informs a system in the boundless space,

"And fills with glory its appointed place;

"With beams unborrow'd brightens other skies,

"And worlds, to thee unknown, with heat and life supplies."

LYONS:

PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE WESTERN ARGUS,

1832.

KE 3635

HARVARD

COLLEGE
LIBRARY

Northern District of New-York, TO WIT:—

B

E it remembered, that on the sixteenth day of July, Anno Domini, 1832, TOBIAS OSTRANDER of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the title of which is in the words following, to wit:

The Planetarium and Astronomical Calculator, containing the Distances, Diameters, Periodical and Diurnal Revolutions of all the Planets in the Solar system, with the Diameters of their Satellites, their distances from, and the periods of their Revolutions around their respective Primaries; together with the method of calculating those Distances, Diameters and Revolutions; and the method of calculating Solar and Lunar Eclipses ; being a compilation from various celebrated authors, with Notes, Examples and Interrogations; prepared for the use of Schools and Academies. By TOAIAS OSTRANDER, Teacher of Mathematics, and author of the Elements of Numbers, Easy Instructor, Mathematical Expositor, &c.

"Consult with reason, reason will reply,

"Each lucid point which glows in yonder sky,
"Informs a system in the boundless space,
"And fills with glory its appointed place;

"With beams unborrow'd brightens other skies,

"And worlds, to thee unknown, with heat and life supplies."

The right whereof he claims as Compiler and Proprietor, in confority with an act of Congress, entitled an Act to amend the several Acts respecting Copy Rights.

RUTGER B. MILLER,

Clerk of the Northern District of New-York.

PREFACE.

In presenting the following pages to the public, I will briefly remark, that the people generally are grossly ignorant in the important and engaging science of Astronomy. Scarcely one in a county is found capable of calculating with exactness, and accuracy the precise time of an eclipse, or conjunction and opposition of the Sun and Moon. Is it for lack of abilities? No.There are no people on the surface of this terraqueous globe, who possess better natural faculties of acquiring knowledge of any description, than those who inhabit the United States of America. In this land of liberty, much has been done, and much still remains to be done, for the benefit of the rising generation. Schools, Academies and Colleges have been erected, for the purpose of facilitating, and extending information and instruction among the youth of this delightful section. Gentlemen possessing the most profound abilities and acquirements, have engaged in the truly laudable employment of disseminating a knowledge of all the sciences; both of useful and ornamental description. Still this branch of the Mathematical science, called Astronomy, has been almost totally neglected, especially among the common people. From what source has this originated? I answer, from a scarcity of books, well calcu