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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'An account of the observations of the late solar eclipse made at Edinborough [Edinburgh] on 18 February 1737' by Sir John Clerk

Reference number: CLP/8ii/74

Date: 1737

Description

Clerk describes how observations of the eclipse were made from multiple points within 10 miles of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Observations were made by skilled individuals, including Professor of mathematics Colin Mac Laurin, and synchronised by use of canon blasts. The intention of the observations was 'to assist in ascertaining the motions of the moon, on Sir Isaac Newton's theory, upon which a good deal of the doctrine of the longitude will depend'.

Subject: Astronomy

Communicated to the Royal Society by Roger Gale

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'A collection of observations of the solar eclipse, Feb. 18. 1736-7. Sent to the Royal Society'

Reference number
CLP/8ii/74
Earliest possible date
1737
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
1 page
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

John Clerk

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Citation

John Clerk, Paper, 'An account of the observations of the late solar eclipse made at Edinborough [Edinburgh] on 18 February 1737' by Sir John Clerk, 1737, CLP/8ii/74, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_8ii_74/paper-an-account-of-the-observations-of-the-late-solar-eclipse-made-at-edinborough-edinburgh-on-18-february-1737-by-sir-john-clerk, accessed on 13 October 2024

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_8ii_74/paper-an-account-of-the-observations-of-the-late-solar-eclipse-made-at-edinborough-edinburgh-on-18-february-1737-by-sir-john-clerk

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  • Classified Papers

    Dates: 1592-1741

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

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