.

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OB 62

OUTLINE

.G64
C PV

of

EIGHT LECTURES-

AND OF AN

INTRODUCTORY LEC
Which

tJV

will

be delivered

THE ASSEMBLY HALL,

NEAR THE PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE,

WASHINGTON.

BY MR, GOODACRE,
FROiM ENGLAND.

WASHINGTON
"TED BY

CITY.

DAVIS AND FORCE, (fRANKUN's

HEAD,
PENNSYLVANIA AVENDE.

1824.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE,

Saturday, January

*J? ^

24, 1824.

OUTLINE OF THE LECTURE.

1.

Rise and progress of Astronomical Knowledge, from the earliest

records to the present time.

Exhibitions of Specimens of the Auxiliary Diagrams.

Indispensable to NavigaNecessary to a clear understanding and a lively perception of the

beauties of the Poets Calculated
unfold to the inquiring mind, proofs
2.

Importance of Astronomical Knowledge

tion

to

of the

Wisdom, Goodness, Power, and Glory of the Creator.

Exhibition of some 'principal Instrument.

The whole

each

Young Ladies and Gentlemen under twelve

years

course, eight transferrable Tickets, five dollars

Lecture, one dollar.

of age, the whole course, three dollars

Doors open
and end

at

at half past

Six o'Clock

each Lecture

the Lectures begin at Seven,

fifty

cents.

Nine.

Should Subscribers
tending, Tickets to the

Course be prevented from regularly atamount of two, but no more, will be exchanged

to the

for admissions to the last Lecture.

Tickets are on sale at the Bookstore of Messrs. Davis & Force, by

Mr. Guegan, by Mr. Pishey Thompson, and by the Lecturer, at the
House adjoining the latter Gentleman's, where Mr. Goodacre will be
happy to see his friends any day between the hours of ten and twelve
'o'clock.

Washington, January

21, 1824

ASTRONOMICAL LECTURES.
INSTRUMENTS
BY WHICH

1.

THE LECTURES ARE EXEMPLIFIED.

A TRANSPARENT TERRESTRIAL GLOBE,

upwards of

fifty

square feet of surface, including

all

containing

the recent disco-

veries.
2.

A HORIZONTAL TELLURIAN, LUNARIAN,

SAREON,

and ECLIP-

the Earth's Orbit performing a course of forty feet, with an

elegant Zodiac, fifty-four feet in circumference.

3.

A VERTICAL TRANSPARENT TELLURIAN,

of the

signs

Four Seasons, and a double Zodiac,

its

with de-

circumference

thirty -feet.
4.

A TRANSPARENT CLIMATE INSTRUMENT, embracing

four Zones of the Celestial Sphere, forty -five feet in circumference.

5.

splendid

TRANSPARENT ORRERY,

* ith all the Planets

6 and 7.

Two

and

containing the Sua,

Satellites, fifty -feet in circumference.

elegant

TRANSPARENT PLANISPHERES

of

the visible Starry Heavens, forty-five feet in circumference, (one with

the figures of the Constellations, the other without) they can be rectified to
8.

time, and to any place in the Atlantic States of the Union.

Plan of a

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM;

SYSTEMS, thirty feet

With smaller

INSTRUMENTS

GRAMS, amounting in

or

SYSTEM

of

SOLAR

in circumference.

number

and Mathematical auxiliary DIA-

to nearly forty.

The whole of this APPARATUS has been constructed at great expense, either
by the Lecturer, or under his immediate inspection, and it is esteemed by competent judges better calculated to elucidate this sublime science than any yet exb>
bited to the Public.

LECTURE

I.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
nently calculated to give
his

man

Astronomical Knowledge emia proper conception of the powers of

own mind.

Outline of the Lecture.

defects

All
These

Tlie Solar System.

Orreries defective in four important particulars

supplied by auxiliary Diagrams and Instru-

A COURSE OF

His Figure AppaIn PerigeeReal Diameter

Revolves on
Axis

Sidereal Revolution Of
Terrestrial
Length of
General Remarks and conjectures respecting the matcomposed
Mercury His
of which the Sun
mean apparent Diameter Greatest apparent DiameReal Diameter SurfaceSolidity Proportion of
of the EarthEccentricity of
OrBulk
Distance from the SunProportion of Light comEarth Hourly motion Time of
Repared with
Axis Number of
volution Rotation on
complete passage through
Orbit
during
Orbit Place of
Axis
ascending
nation of
Orbit
the Ecliptic Place
Node Inclination of
Perihelion General Remarks and Conjectures.
of
&c. See Mercury
Venus Diameter, Distance,
The Earth,
General Remarks and Conjectures
particulars
Mercury
same
(More minute
nearly
parts
many
of
the
Course)
Mars,
information

General
Remarks

Curious
Spots
Elements
Sun

ments

in the Centre

rent Diameter in Apogee

Spots
Surface Bulk

his

his

his

is

ter

ter

to that

his

his

bit

the

his

his

rotations

his

his

his

to his

Incli-

his

his

to

his

Orbit,

as

the

in

as before

Mars ...... The new Planets, Vesta,

Ceres;
Elements (as far as known) as
Pallas,
Juno,
Remarks
Pallas and Ceres singularly
General
before
near the Poles of

circumstanced in respect to each other Good situations for Astronomical views of the Solar System

General RemarksHis
ShapeBelts Attendant Moons Varied
views of Saturn from Jupiter: Excellent situation
Saturn, Elements as before
observing transits
General Remarks Attendant Moons and Ring
Uranus, the Georgium Sidus, or Herschel, Elements
(far as known) as before General Remarks Atten-

Jupiter, Elements as before

Seasons

for

dant Moons ...... Conjectures on the extent of the So-

LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.
lar
all

->

General and combined movements of

the Planets .... Their present situation in space ....

System

Reflections.

Instruments tised in this Lecture : The Planes of the Planets*

Diagrams MagniOrbits ; The Grand Transparent Orrery.

tudes of the Planets

exemplify elliptical motion

to

ferent Planets

,-

their distances; their eccentricities

Size of the

Sun

Figure

as seen from the dif-

Telescopic appearances of the Planets.

LECTURE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

II.

The Study

of Astronomy cal-

culated in an eminent degree to confirm the belief of

Man

in

Divine

Revelation.

Outline of the Lecture.

Figure of the Earth

Rotundity examined Proofs of its
General laws of Matter and Motion .....
Rotundity
Discoveries of the Earth's Spheroidal Shape Cause of
this conformation
Explanation of terms on the
VeryRotation of the Earth on its Axis
Globe*
Objections to

its

general outline of
tures)

Time

(to

be

filled

up

in future

Lec-

Origin of the Zodiac on the supposition

Sun appears is a fit

Remarks on
emblem of some event in the year
The Earth, in its annual orbit,
this Hypothesis
moves round the Sun Decisive proof in the different
position of the same Stars of the Zodiac at midnight
that the Constellation in which the

during different periods of the year

*

The critical reader

is

Cheap and useful

requested to observe, that, in the arrangement of these

Lectures, three circumstances concur to prevent articles being placed exactly in

their proper order. First,

While some parts of a subject ought

vious to the introduction of another,

still

requires the use of an Instrument which eannot be set

are present.

Secondly,

to be discussed pre-

the demonstration of the whole article

up while others

necessary-

As several parts of the Lectures must be delivered in a state

of darkness, it is necessary to introduce such parts at times least inconvenient

to the Audience. Thirdly, It is desirable that some subject should be ready for
the Lecturer to explain to his Auditors, during the time necessarily employed in
the removal of one Instrument and the setting up of another.

A COURSE OF

making

devices for

for finding the

these observations

Directions

South point of the Horizon

The

line of

The ZenithMid Heaven

Cheap and
purposes* Reflections.
useful Instruments for
the Zodiac

these

Instruments used :

the

Large Globe ;

the Vertical Tellurian f

Instrumentfor showing the centre of Gravity, Diagrams Figures

for showing the Rotundity of the Earth ; Earth's shadow on tht
:

Moon ; Laws

ofJ\atter

and JMotion.

LECTURE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
surest basis of Geographical

III.

Astronomical knowledge,

tile

admeasurements. Exemplified by a dia-

gram.

Outline of the Lecture. Earth enlightened by

Sun
Day and Night occasioned by its turning
on its own Axis Appearances opposed to this Theory
the

Collateral

proof that the Earth turns on

its

Axis,

derived from the corresponding Phases of the Moon and

the inferior Planets ...... Division of the Globe into
Position of the Earth on its AxisSpring,
Zones
Summer, Autumn, and Winter, caused by its obliquity
Proofs of its obliquity Directions for making these

How

observations

to transfer observations

made

on the Globe or Tellurian to appearances in the Heavens ...... The Globe of the Earth in Climates Length
of Days in each Cause of their variety Polar Days
Theory of Polar Sunshine and Polar Moonlight Cause
Glance
of greater Heat in Summer than in Winter
Their singular variety and raat the Days in Venus

Has Venus a Moon Opinions of AstroWeight of Evidence in

nomers on the subject

pid change

differ

favour of the negative.

Instruments wsed.- The Horizontal

Climate Instrument. Diagrams

the

the Planets;

Tellurian; the

Large Globes

Telescopic appearances of

Cause of greater Heat in Summer than in Winter.

LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.

LECTURE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
may be

lodge

IV.
Useful Astronomical

Know-

acquired without confinement in the Parlour or the

Study.

Extended view of Time

Outline of the Lecture.

Great

difficulties in

rendering the different periods

Days, (Sidereal, Solar, AstronomiWeeksMonthsYears, very various,

Different reformations of the Calendar.-Time, mean
and equated two causes of
remarkable variation
Diin Time
Eccentricity of the Earth's Orbit
simple and correct
Civil,)

cal,

this

&.

1.

rection of the Sun's

path in respect to the Earth's

AxisProofs of the Eccentricity of the Earth's
Orbit
Twilight on our Planet Its cause and

extent Different

in

England
Heavens
vault of Heaven into

different

and the United States

Division of the concave

Latitudes

The

Starry

three Regions Classification of the Stars into ConstelOrigin of the

lationsSeveral Stars still unformed
Zodiac on the supposition that the Constellation which
conies to the Western Horizon at day break is a fit

emblem of some event

The

portion of the Starry

three Regions

The

visible
this

Remarks on

this

Concave

visible in

our Lati-

Practical division of the Starry Vault into

tude
Star

in the year

Constellations in each Region

Hypothesis

Directions

line of the

Precession

Phenomenon

Its

for finding the

North Polar

All the Constellations

of the Equinoxes Cause of

Zodiac

important effects on the posi-

and

tions of the fixed Stars,

in its changing the place

of the Polar Star.

Instruments used: The Planisphere tvith the Constellations;

Large Globe. Diagrams Earth's Orbit in Duodetants; Cause

the

of Twilight.

A COURSE OF

LECTURE

V.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

Astronomical Knowledge casts

light on passages and events in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures.

The Moon Her regu Distance from the EarthEnlightened by

the Sun Her various Phases Keeps always nearly
the Earth Proof Telescopic views of
the same side
the Moon Her Spots, Mountains, and Valleys Their
Path,
size and height
the Summer
of
the Moon
the Conjunction In the Opposition and
Outline of the Lecture.

lar

Motions

to

Solstice,

at

in

at each

Quadrature:The same
Equinoxes

Winter

at the

The same at both

Solstice

Irregular motions

Her Libration
Their important
and Latitude Her unequal Motion in
Longitude Lunations unequal, and quarters of Lunations unequal Time of Moon's appearance each evening irregularHarvest Moon Different years more
or
favourable
the Harvest Moon Cause of these
and waxing
PhenomenaWaning Limb of the
of the

Moon

effects

in Longitude

less

to

old,

Crescent of the new Moon seen on the same day

Causes combining to effect this very rare occurrence*
Striking retardation of the new Moon's appearance after the great Solar Eclipse of 7th of Sept, 1820, contrast-

ed with

its

rapid approach after the Eclipse of

March

Cause of difference
the Moon inhabited Various opinions of Astrono-

14th in the same year

Is

this

mers on this subject The weight of rational evidence

seems in favour of the affirmative of the question
Appearance of our Earth to the Lunarians.
and Lunarian; the
Globe. Diagrams
Various Maps of the Moon; different Phases of the Moon; Moon's
Orbit in Octants; Moon s Path during a Lunar Cycle; Moon's
Path as seen from the Sun,
Instruments used:

Planisphere

the Horizontal Tellurian

ivith the Constellations; the

Large

'<

-..

LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.

LECTURE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

VI.

Astronomical Knowledge calcu*

lated to aid our researches into antiquity.

Eclipses Theory of
Total Eclipses of the Sun Annular Eclipses Partial Eclipses The same Eclipses of the Moon
Digits Eclipsed Umbra and Penumbra
The
Tides of the Ocean Their various Phenomena explained on the Newtonian Theory On the new Theory of
Captain Foreman Remarks on the
theories

Outline of the lecture.

Eclipses

different

of the Tides.

Instruments used: the Horizontal Eclipsareon; the large Globe;

Grand Orrery. Diagrams: Cause of Eclipses; Digits
eclipsed; Umbra and Penumbra; Tides in Rivers; Cause of the
the

Tides,

LECTURE
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
ledge

may be

devices.

VII.
Useful

Astronomical Know-

obtained at a cheap rate, ("exemplified by appropriate

Outline of the Lecture. Comets Their general

Theory Great Comet of 1680 Speculations of the
learned respecting the nature of Comets
Theory

Motions of

of the Eclipses of Jupiter's Satellites

the Satellites of the superior

Planets around their

respective

Primaries

Parallelism

Ring

Parallax

Methods of

Latitude and Longitude of places

of

Saturn's

finding

the

Heliocentric

and Geocentric Longitude of Planets ...... Direct and

Elongation
Conjunctions
Transits of inferior Planets Vast impor-

retrograde Motion

tance of the transits of Venus

Obliquity of #ie

LECTURES ON ASTRONOMY.

Ecliptic varying

and diminishing

Cause of

this

Phe-

nomenon.
Instruments used: Apparatus for showing the Eclipses of Juand the Parallelism of Saturn's Ring; the large

piter's Satellites

Globe; the Vertical Tellurian -with the Planet Venus,

Diagrams:

Comets of 1680 and 1811; Minute scheme of Jupiter's, Saturn'

and Uranus' s Satellites; different appearances of Saturn's Ring;

method of measuring from each Planet the elongation of any other

Planet,

LECTURE
INTRODUCTORY REM \ RKS.
lated to strengthen

VIH.
The

study of Astronomy calcu-

and expand the mind of Man,

Outline of the lecture.

Advance

Earth's axis

Cause of
Picture

this

Starry Heavens

of the Perihe-

Nutation of the

lion point of the Earth's Orbit

The

Phenomenon

of the visible Heavens rec-

tified to any given time and place- Nightly apparent

motion of the Heavens depicted Motions of the plaHow to find in
nets which are visible to the naked eye
the open air, the time and place of their rising, culmi*
nating, or setting The same in respect to any fixed
Star Motion of the Pole Star during the great Sidereal or Platonic Year of 25,920 years, depicted on the
The construction of the Universe
Planisphere
Its supposed extentVast discoveries of Dr. Herschei
NebulsePlanetary Nebulse Double Stars Change-

Milky Way Number of Stars Size of the

Stars Supposed distance of the fixed Stars Each Star
the centre of a System Combination of Solar Systems
able Stars

into one Universal

System

Conclusion.

Instruments used: The large Globe;

the Constellations; the Universal System.

the Planisphere -without

Diagrams:

Orbit in duodecants; the Constellation Orion*

the Earth's

library of congress
iiihi

Mil

IN.

003 538 551 4