Part 43

M. _Maupertuis_, in his dissertation on the figures of the Celestial Bodies (p. 61-63) is of opinion that some Stars, by their prodigious quick rotations on their Axes, may not only assume the figures of oblate spheroids, but that by the great centrifugal force, arising from such rotations, they may become of the figures of mill-stones; or be reduced to flat circular planes, so thin as to be quite invisible when their edges are turned towards us; as Saturn’s Ring is in such positions. But when very excentric Planets or Comets go round any flat Star, in Orbits much inclined to it’s Equator, the attraction of the Planets or Comets in their perihelions must alter the inclination of the Star; on which account it will appear more or less large and luminous as it’s broad side is more or less turned towards us. And thus he imagines we may account for the apparent changes of magnitude and lustre in those Stars, and likewise for their appearing and disappearing.

Footnote 87:

See this word explained in the note at the foot of page 194.

Footnote 88:

See the note on § 323.

Footnote 89:

_Matt._ xxvii. 45. _Mark_ xv. 43. _Luke_ xxiii. 44.

Transcriber’s Note

This book uses inconsistent spelling and hyphenation, which were retained in the ebook version. Some corrections have been made to the text, including correcting the errata and normalizing punctuation. Further corrections are noted below:

Errata: l. 15 from botton -> l. 15 from bottom p. 9: forward in the Eliptic -> forward in the Ecliptic p. 31: is at it were -> is as it were p. 36, Footnote 22 moved from referring to Rutherfurth to Maclaurin, additionally ‘Isacc Newton’ changed to ‘Isaac Newton’. Footnote marker on Rutherfurth removed as there was no footnote associated with it. p. 38: on the the same Axis -> on the same Axis Footnote 32 κοσμὸν -> κόσμον p. 69: who were suprised to find -> who were surprised to find p. 69: than those whch -> than those which p. 72: than tie a thread -> then tie a thread p. 74: is is equal to -> is equal to p. 74: the graduaded limb -> the graduated limb Footnote 49: bove the horizon -> above the horizon p. 78: different lenghts -> different lengths p. 78: from the the Equator -> from the Equator p. 90: is not instantaneons -> is not instantaneous p. 92: Degreees and Parts of the Equtor-> Degrees and Parts of the Equator p. 132: appear supprising -> appear surprising p. 133: When Jupiter at -> When Jupiter is at Sidenote p. 136: The reason of of this -> the reason of this p. 140 the opposite points rises -> the opposite point rises Sidenote p. 141: Harvest aad Hunter’s -> Harvest and Hunter’s p. 154: espeically as to the -> especially as to the Sidenote p. 155: aereal Tides -> aerial Tides p. 158: the the Earth -> the Earth p. 160: goes round him 87 days -> goes round him in 87 days p. 161: Eclipses and revolulution -> Eclipses and revolution p. 167: Jacobus Ptlaumen -> Jacobus Pflaumen p. 168: set set down -> set down p. 172 Table 2, 1st column, 6th row: 1388 -> 1488 p. 174: duplicate entry for 1606 Sept 2. removed p. 177: foretold by Thalls -> foretold by Thales p. 180: the Eclipse is annualar -> the Eclipse is annular p. 193: EAAMPLE II. -> EXAMPLE II p. 202: these two Fquations -> these two Equations p. 203: their Sun will be -> their Sum will be p. 210: the page number was printed as 110 and has been corrected p. 210: Motion and Semi diameter -> Motion and Semi-diameter p. 232: ζωδίακος -> ζωδιακὸς p. 232: ζῶδιον -> ζώδιον p. 238: oblate spheriod -> oblate spheroid p. 261 18 Degres -> 18 Degrees Index Mercury (Quicksiver) -> Mercury (Quicksilver) List of Plates Page number for Plate IV corrected from 15 to 97