Credit: ©The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.14476

    Observations on Mars

    Date
    28 March 1666
    Creator
    Unknown, Artist
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Manuscript page number
    p229
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (page): 365mm
    width (page): 233mm
    Subject
    Content object
    space
       > Solar system
          > planet
             > Mars
    Description
    Figure of the spots on Mars observed by Robert Hooke during February and March 1666. The observation was presented at the meeting of the Royal Society on 28 March 1666 and ordered to be registered. It was printed in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 1, no. 14 (July 1666).

    This figure is copied from RBO/3/098.
    Object history
    At the meeting of the Royal Society on 28 March 1666, ‘Mr. Hooke presented a paper containing some observations made by himself of the planet Mars, in the face whereof he affirm’d to have discovered, during the last months of February and March, both that there were several spots, and that they changed their place, and did not return to the same position till the next ensuing night near about the same time; collecting thence, that Mars, as well as Jupiter, the earth, &c. moves about his own axis in about 24 hours. To which he added his observations concerning the different dispositions of the air […]. Whereupon the president took notice (in which his lordship was seconded by Dr. Wilkins) that Sir Paul Neile had already some years before observed the like difference in the air […]. Mr. Hooke was desired to continue his observations for farther confirmation and it was order’d that his paper should be registered’ (Birch 2:74-75).

    Printed in Robert Hooke, 'The particular observations of the planet Mars, formerly intimated to have been made by Mr. Hook in February and March last, Some observations, made in Italy, confirming the former; and withall fixing the period of the said planet's revolution. Observation lately made at London, of the planet Jupiter: as also of Saturn', Phil. Trans. vol. 1, no. 14 (July 1666), pp. 239-48 (refs to figures at pp. 241-42, 245, 246-47).
    Related fellows
    Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > United Kingdom
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