Tabulae Astronomicae

HALLEY, Edmund (1656-1742). Tabulae astronomicae. Accedunt de usu tabularum praecepta . London: William Innys, 1749. First edition, association copy. Owned by Nevil Maskeleyne and with his notes. Norman copy. "Halley’s astronomical contributions were not confined to comets, and he made notable advances in the determination of the distance of the sun, in positional and navigational astronomy, and in general stellar astronomy" (DSB). These posthumously published astronomical tables include Halley’s calculations relating to the so-called "long inequality" of Jupiter and Saturn, caused by the deceleration of Saturn and the increasing acceleration of Jupiter. Halley correctly theorized that this phenomenon might be the result of a gravitational attraction between the two planets. The edition also contains the third Latin edition of the Synopsis astronomiae cometicae . This copy's apparent first owner was the important astronomer, Nevil Maskelyne (1732-1811). Maskelyne served as Astronomer-Royal from 1765 until his death and made important contributions to the determination of longitude at sea. He was also the first person to scientifically measure the mass of the Earth. At the time he acquired this book, Maskelyne was studying for the ministry at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge. However, his interest in astronomy had already begun, following the solar eclipse of 14 July 1748. Included in the book is a loosely inserted folded quarto sheet bearing three pages in Maskelyne’s hand, the first two containing tables copied from the Memoires de l’Academie des Sciences , of "a series of oppositions of Saturn & the Sun," the last page containing Maskelyne’s comments on some of Halley’s calculations. Houzeau & Lancaster 12796; Norman 981 (this copy). Quarto (281 x 222mm). Engraved frontispiece portrait. License leaf, and errata leaf at end (marginal soiling/spotting, a few leaves browned, quire Q3 misbound, text block cracked after first gathering.) Contemporary calf (rebacked, boards rubbed).

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