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Hello,

First, I know that this message may be out
of scope on a navigation list, but this one
seems to be very ecletic. So here is the
problem:

I'm trying to validate the results of
a planet position algorithm for early
dates. So I searched for the oldest
Mars observations I could find.

In the book "History of Astronomy",
by Anton Pannekoek, I found a little
table of times of Mars oppositions
in the period between 1580 and 1604,
which is reproduced below.

The book is not very detailed about that
table (which is quoted below).
It is based in the observations by Tycho Brahe,
and is very important to the history of astronomy,
since it was used by Kepler to discover his
fundamental planet laws.

- Are the dates in Gregorian calendar ?
( I know protestant countries were slow
  to adopt the new calendar, by as much
  as 100 years ).

- What is the time zone he used
( or how can I convert the times to UT )
Any hint will be appreciated.

Omar

P.S. Mars Oppositions by T. Brahe
18/11/1580 01:31
28/12/1582 03:58
30/01/1585 19:14
06/03/1587 07:23
14/05/1589 06:23
08/06/1591 07:43
25/08/1593 17:27
31/10/1595 00:39
13/12/1597 15:44
18/01/1600 14:02
20/02/1602 14:13
28/03/1604 16:23

   

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