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Re: TEN lunars stars?
From: Peter Ifland
Date: 2003 Dec 18, 11:41 -0500
From: Peter Ifland
Date: 2003 Dec 18, 11:41 -0500
Subject: Re: TEN lunars stars? > Frank Reed wrote: > > > I was browsing the Nautical Almanac from 1778 yesterday, and I was > > surprised to discover another lunar distance star. I was under the > > impression that the nine standard ones were in place right from the > > first edition. The extra star is Beta Capricorni. Actually, the Almanac listed ten stars from the beginning. Here's some additional info on stars listed in the first edition of the Nautical Almanac - edition of 1766 for the year 1767. Maskelyne has reproduced the Lunar tables of Professor Mayer of Goetingen using two tables for each month - one for the distance from the moon of the sun and stars east of her and one for those west of her. He lists the distance of the Sun and ten stars in three-hour intervals: (using his spelling) Pegasi, Arietis, Aldebaran, Pollux, Regulus, Spica, Antares. Aquilae, Formalhaut, and Capricorni. As you might expect, not all stars are listed each month and for some months one or two stars may be listed twice - at the beginning of the month and again at the end. Hope this helps. Peter Ifland peterp@fuse.net
