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Ernest MOUCHEZ (1821-1892) admiral and astronomer. Autograph manuscript signed, Alex. De Humboldt et Bonpland..., [ca. 1850]; 23-page folio notebook plus title. Reading notes on the Astronomy section of Humboldt's voyage to America.Mouchez has summarized the Astronomy section of Humboldt and Bonpland's Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du Nouveau Continent, Volume I of the Recueil d'observations astronomiques, d'opérations trigonométriques et de mesures barométriques, which constitutes the 4th section of Humboldt and Bonpland's work (Paris, F. Schœll, 1810).His manuscript is in two parts: the first summarizes the Introduction, written by Humboldt, and the second summarizes the Preliminary Discourse, written by the astronomer Jabbo Oltmanns (1783-1833).The first part deals with the determination of positions using a repeating circle or sextant, followed by reflection instruments. This is followed by remarks on the determination of geographical positions, on the proper motion of stars, on the determination of latitudes at sea by the meridian heights of stars, and on eclipses and their use to determine longitudes.The second part is devoted to the means used to determine the position of places: first latitude (4 methods are presented), then longitude (lunar distances; eclipses of the sun and occultation of stars; passage of the lower planets on the solar disk; right ascensions and hour angles of the Moon). Next, methods of longitude unaffected by parallax are discussed (lunar eclipses; Jupiter's satellites). Numerous scientists are mentioned in this study: Kepler, Gassendi, Peiresc, Newton, Bradley, Lalande, Bouguer, La Condamine, Arago, etc. A few pencil annotations were made in the margins by Mouchez during proofreading.Enclosed is an invitation to the inauguration of Le Verrier's statue at the Observatory, addressed to Henri Becquerel.
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Ernest MOUCHEZ (1821-1892) admiral and astronomer. Autograph manuscript signed, Alex. De Humboldt et Bonpland..., [ca. 1850]; 23-page folio notebook plus title. Reading notes on the Astronomy section of Humboldt's voyage to America.Mouchez has summarized the Astronomy section of Humboldt and Bonpland's Voyage aux régions équinoxiales du Nouveau Continent, Volume I of the Recueil d'observations astronomiques, d'opérations trigonométriques et de mesures barométriques, which constitutes the 4th section of Humboldt and Bonpland's work (Paris, F. Schœll, 1810).His manuscript is in two parts: the first summarizes the Introduction, written by Humboldt, and the second summarizes the Preliminary Discourse, written by the astronomer Jabbo Oltmanns (1783-1833).The first part deals with the determination of positions using a repeating circle or sextant, followed by reflection instruments. This is followed by remarks on the determination of geographical positions, on the proper motion of stars, on the determination of latitudes at sea by the meridian heights of stars, and on eclipses and their use to determine longitudes.The second part is devoted to the means used to determine the position of places: first latitude (4 methods are presented), then longitude (lunar distances; eclipses of the sun and occultation of stars; passage of the lower planets on the solar disk; right ascensions and hour angles of the Moon). Next, methods of longitude unaffected by parallax are discussed (lunar eclipses; Jupiter's satellites). Numerous scientists are mentioned in this study: Kepler, Gassendi, Peiresc, Newton, Bradley, Lalande, Bouguer, La Condamine, Arago, etc. A few pencil annotations were made in the margins by Mouchez during proofreading.Enclosed is an invitation to the inauguration of Le Verrier's statue at the Observatory, addressed to Henri Becquerel.
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