
audiobook
THE CONTENTS.
SECT. I.
SECT. II.
The DESCRIPTION and USE of the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes.
SECT. I.
SECT. II.
II. Of Zones and Climates, &c.
III. Of the Poetical rising and setting of the Stars.
IV. Of the surface of the Earth, considered as it is composed of Land and Water.
The DESCRIPTION of the Great Orrery, lately made by Mr. Thomas Wright, Mathematical Instrument-Maker to his late Majesty, and now by Benjamin Cole, his Successor.
A concise, 18th‑century guide walks readers through the motions of the heavens by first sketching the layout of the solar system and the fixed stars. It explains how the primary planets orbit the Sun, how their periods and distances are measured, and why the Moon appears larger than any planet. The opening sections set a clear foundation for anyone curious about the celestial mechanics that drive daily and annual motions.
The work then turns to the practical side of astronomy, describing both terrestrial and celestial globes and the ingenious orrery that models planetary paths. With step‑by‑step problems, listeners learn to locate latitude and longitude, calculate the Sun’s position on a given day, and find antipodes or the angle between distant points. The text blends geometric definition with hands‑on exercises, making it a valuable companion for students, educators, and amateur stargazers who want to grasp the sky’s geometry without modern technology.
Full title
The description and use of the globes and the orrery To which is prefix'd, by way of introduction, a brief account of the solar system To which is prefix'd, by way of introduction, a brief account of the solar system
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (247K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by deaurider, Paul Marshall and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
Mar 26, 2020
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1704–1764
A blacksmith’s son from rural Wales, he taught himself into the worlds of astronomy, navigation, and public policy. His books and instruments helped sailors and statesmen alike, and his work at the Royal Mint gave him a quiet but lasting influence on British science and commerce.
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