Parallax
Date
21 September 1669
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p2
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 320mm
width (page): 196mm
width (page): 196mm
Subject
Description
A diagram illustrating Robert des Gabetz's way of determining parallax in order to prove the Copernican system. This was part of a letter from Gabetz to Robert Moray, which was read to the Royal Society on 2 December 1669. Gabetz had suggested various inventions, which Moray judged to be 'either already better done here or were not likely to perform what they pretended to'.
Copied from EL/G1/32/001.
Copied from EL/G1/32/001.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 2 December 1669, ‘Sir Robert Moray produced a Latin paper sent from Paris by one Robert Desgabetz, containing several inventions, as 1. Of finding the parallax by a better way than the author thought to have been invented hitherto, in order to find the physical truth of the Copernican system. 2. Of a perpetual motion by means of the Cartesian materia striata, by which magnetic needles are converted to the poles, etc. 3. Framing ships after a new manner, to go under water without danger of ship-wreck. 4. Of an horizontal wind mill. 5. Of a new fashioned musical instrument, excelling a theorbo, harp, basis-viol, etc. 6. Of a pocket pendulum watch; which appeared to be the same with that of Mr. Hooke. Sir Robert Moray having perused this paper declared his opinion, that the several contrivances, contained in it, were either already better done here or were not likely to perform what they pretended to’ (Birch 2:409-10).
Related fellows
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place