Credit: © The Royal Society
Image number: RS.9220
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'Transit of Venus December 6, 1882'
Date
January 1882 - March 1882
Creator
Samuel Johnson, FRAS, Astronomer
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Dimensions
height (drawing): 260mm
width (drawing): 310mm
width (drawing): 310mm
Subject
Content object
space
> Solar system
> Sun
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Venus
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Earth
> Solar system
> Sun
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Venus
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Earth
Description
Projected appearance of the transit as viewed from London, using Ferguson’s method of projection. Inscribed with the title above and annotated to explain the track of the planet: “Ingress” and “Egress below the horizon”. Supporting notes verso state that “Out of four transits of Venus visible in this country during the last three hundred years, three occur under similar circumstances, that is, they commence here shortly before sunset...”.
Object history
From manuscript "Eclipses of the Sun and Moon 1882-2000", by Samuel J Johnson FRAS (MS/117). Projected drawings of the tracks of solar and lunar eclipses, including Transits of Venus, with supporting descriptive text. In addition to predictive calculations, Johnson includes retrospective drawings of key historical eclipses from 763 BC to 1724 AD. Also included is a letter of presentation from the clergyman and astronomer dated 25 March 1882 written at Melplash Vicarage Bridport, Devon.
Associated place