Lectures on the Lunar Theory (Classic Reprint)

John Couch Adams

ISBN 10: 1332781624 / ISBN 13: 9781332781621

Published by Forgotten Books, 2017

About this Item

Print on Demand. This book delves into the fascinating world of the Moon's motion, tracing the history of scientific inquiry into its complex and seemingly erratic path across the sky. From the ancient Greeks to the early modern era, astronomers have sought to understand the forces that govern the Moon's orbit. The author, building on the work of giants like Newton and Clairaut, examines the key inequalities that influence the Moon's position, including the Variation, the Parallactic Inequality, the Annual Equation, and the Evection. The text explores these concepts through a combination of geometrical and analytical methods, breaking down the intricate mathematical calculations involved and revealing the elegant interplay of gravitational forces. The book also illuminates the evolution of astronomical theory, illustrating how earlier approximations gave way to increasingly accurate and sophisticated models that sought to account for all the observed discrepancies in the Moon's movement. Ultimately, this book provides a rich and detailed exploration of the lunar theory, offering insights into the intricate mechanics of celestial motion and showcasing the remarkable ingenuity of astronomers throughout history in their quest to understand the universe around us. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book.

Seller Inventory # 9781332781621_0

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Lectures on the Lunar Theory (Classic Reprint)
• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication Date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1332781624
• ISBN 13: 9781332781621
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New
• Book Type: print-on-demand item
• Seller catalogs:
  • Calculus

About this title

Synopsis

Excerpt from Lectures on the Lunar Theory

It was thought that the wide interest attaching to the lunar problem reached many besides the professed astronomer, and would justify a separate publication of this short work.

It is known that Adams contemplated the publication of some such essay himself, and it must be a matter of regret to 'all that he never did so. No pains have been spared to present the material properly, but it is unavoidable that it should appear from the hands of an editor in a less perfect form than if the author had issued it himself.

Yet, allowing for this disadvantage, I think those best qualified to judge will consider this work fully worthy of Adams's great name. Of current elementary theories it may be said that they leave ofi' where the difficulties of the subject begin, that is to say, where the various cases of slow con vergence have been exposed, but not dealt with. It is perhaps not too much to say that these lectures carry us to the point where such difficulties end, in an adequate evaluation of all the chief constants. They leave the problem effectively solved and not merely stated, and shew the path clear for the for mation of a detailed theory, if that is desired.

About the Publisher

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Book Description

Originally published in 1900, this book presents a collection of fascinating lectures collated from the manuscripts of Professor John Couch Adams. The lectures, which were taught at the University of Cambridge between the years 1860-89, aimed 'to illustrate geometrically the analytical processes' of the Lunar Theory and 'render them more comprehensible'.