Saturn's ring
Date
29 June 1666
Creator
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p1
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 145mm
width (page): 175mm
width (page): 175mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Figure of Saturn as observed by Robert Hooke with a 60-foot telescope on 29 June 1666. With graphite, Hooke shows the faint line of the inner edge of the ring, indicating that the lower part of the ring was in front of the body of Saturn. The line of the inner edge of the ring could not be traced to the upper part of ring, as it was obscured by the body of Saturn. An earlier, smaller attempt in ink to the left of the main drawing looks as if it was crossed out, though it was copied into the Register Book as orientation points.
The report was read at the meeting on 11 July 1666, and was ordered to be registered. Hiooke's observation was printed in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 1, no. 14 (July 1666).
Copies of this image can be found at RBO/3/176 and RBC/2/306.
The report was read at the meeting on 11 July 1666, and was ordered to be registered. Hiooke's observation was printed in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 1, no. 14 (July 1666).
Copies of this image can be found at RBO/3/176 and RBC/2/306.
Transcription
June the 29 between 11 & 12 at night I observed the body of ?
through a 60 foot glasse & found it exactly of the shape represented in the figure R. The ring appeard of a somewhat brighter light than the Body, and the White lines aa crossing the Ring, and bb crossing the Body (whether shadow or not I dispute not) were plainly visible. Whence I could manifestly see that the Southermost part of the ring was on this side of the body and that the Northern part behind or coverd by body.
The late Observ. of Saturne.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
through a 60 foot glasse & found it exactly of the shape represented in the figure R. The ring appeard of a somewhat brighter light than the Body, and the White lines aa crossing the Ring, and bb crossing the Body (whether shadow or not I dispute not) were plainly visible. Whence I could manifestly see that the Southermost part of the ring was on this side of the body and that the Northern part behind or coverd by body.
The late Observ. of Saturne.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 11 July 1666, ‘Mr. Hooke’s observation on Saturn, made June 29, 1666, was read, and ordered to be registered’ (Birch 2:103).
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.
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.
Related fellows
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place