Astronomical observations
Date
15 September 1666
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p1
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 205mm
width (page): 198mm
width (page): 198mm
Subject
Content object
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Saturn
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Jupiter
space
> Solar system
> Moon
space
> star
> Solar system
> planet
> Saturn
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Jupiter
space
> Solar system
> Moon
space
> star
Description
Positions of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn as observed by William Balle on 11 and 12 September 1666, in a letter to Robert Moray. Balle mentions in the letter that he used a 12-foot telescope to observe a small star near the Moon.
Balle's observations of Saturn made in the second half of the 1650s were used by both Christopher Wren and Christian Huygens in their hypotheses about the ring of Saturn. Balle owned a 12-foot telescope made by Eustachio Divini (see J. Gross, 'William Ball (c. 1631-1690)', ODNB).
Balle's observations of Saturn made in the second half of the 1650s were used by both Christopher Wren and Christian Huygens in their hypotheses about the ring of Saturn. Balle owned a 12-foot telescope made by Eustachio Divini (see J. Gross, 'William Ball (c. 1631-1690)', ODNB).
Related fellows
William Balle (1627 - 1690, British) , Astronomer
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Robert Moray (1608 - 1673, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place