Instrument for measuring the refraction of celestial bodies
Date
December 1664
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p5
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 302mm
width (page): 312mm
width (page): 312mm
Subject
Content object
Description
This drawing was sent from Monsieur Thevenot in Paris to Henry Oldenburg. It is now archived with an English letter in the hand of Henry Oldenburg, which must be his English translation of the original French.
It explains how the instrument can be made, and also how it should be used.
It explains how the instrument can be made, and also how it should be used.
Transcription
An Account of the instrument for measuring Refracting, used at Paris, and thence sent to H. Oldenburg from Monsr. Thevenot.
[...]
To know the refraction at any angle given, turne the Triangle to the Sun, and incline it untile the beam VR doe passe between the glas and the wood, and consequently directly unto E.A. upon the degree desired. At the same time look upon what degree the light of the refracted ray falls, as in ST and the angle marked is the refracted angle, answering to the angle of inclination ACR, which has been chosen.
[on page 3:]
When the instrument is ready, we shall send a scheme of it to you.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
[...]
To know the refraction at any angle given, turne the Triangle to the Sun, and incline it untile the beam VR doe passe between the glas and the wood, and consequently directly unto E.A. upon the degree desired. At the same time look upon what degree the light of the refracted ray falls, as in ST and the angle marked is the refracted angle, answering to the angle of inclination ACR, which has been chosen.
[on page 3:]
When the instrument is ready, we shall send a scheme of it to you.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 14 December 1664, 'The experiment of trying the refraction of common water by filling the whole tube of the refracting instrument with it, was tried; and it was found, that it agreed with the usual way of trying the refraction of that liquor.
Mr Hooke produced the scheme for the instrument of measuring the refraction of celestial bodies; which was ordered to be registered' (Birch 1:507). It was, however, not registered (see ibid., note m).
Mr Hooke produced the scheme for the instrument of measuring the refraction of celestial bodies; which was ordered to be registered' (Birch 1:507). It was, however, not registered (see ibid., note m).
Related fellows
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Associated place