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Edmond Halley

English astronomer, mathematician, geophysicist, meteorologist and physicist

Edmond Halley, FRS (8 November 1656 – 14 January 1742) was an English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet.

Edmund Halley (circa 1690)

Quotes

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  • Wherefore, if, according to what we have already said, it should return again about the year 1758, candid posterity will not refuse to acknowledge that this was first discovered by an Englishman.
    • As quoted in An Essay towards a History of the principal Comets that have appeared since the Year 1742 (1769), p. 49.  Halley's Comet reappeared on December 25, 1758.

A Synopsis of the Astronomy of Comets (1705)

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by Edmond Halley, Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford; and Fellow of the Royal Society. Translated from the Original, printed at Oxford. London: Printed for John Senex, next to the Fleece-Tavern, in Cornhill. 1705. Source @Archive.org.
  • So that 'tis to the Greeks themselves as the Inventors (and especially to the Great Hipparchus) that we owe this Astronomy, which is now improv'd to such a Heigth. But yet, amongst these, the Opinion of Aristotle (who wou'd have Comets to be nothing else, but Sublunary Vapours, or Airy Meteors) prevailed so far, that this most difficult Part of the Astronomical Science lay altogether neglected; for no Body thought it worth while to take Notice of, or write about, the Wandring uncertain Motions of what they esteemed Vapours floating in the Æther; whence it came to pass, that nothing certain, concerning the Motion of Comets, can be found transmitted from them to us.
  • But Seneca the Philosopher, having consider'd the Phænomena of Two remarkable Comets of his Time, made no Scruple to place them amongst the Cœlestial Bodies; believing them to be Stars of equal Duration with the World, tho' he owns their Motions to be govern'd by Laws not as then known or found out. And at last (which was no untrue or vain Prediction) he foretells, that there should be Ages sometime hereafter, to whom Time and Diligence shou'd unfold all these Mysteries, and who shou'd wonder that the Ancients cou'd be ignorant of them, after some lucky Interpreter of Nature had shewn, in what Parts of the Heavens the Comets wander'd, and how great they were.
  • Yet almost all the Astronomers differ'd from this Opinion of Seneca; neither did Seneca himself think fit to set down those Phænomena of the Motion, by which he was enabled to maintain his Opinion: Nor the Times of those Appearances, which might be of use to Posterity, in order to the Determining these Things. And indeed, upon the Turning over very many Histories of Comets, I find nothing at all that can be of Service in this Affair, before, A.D. 1337, at which time Nicephorus Gregoras, a Constantinopolitan Historian and Astronomer, did pretty accurately describe the Path of a Comet amongst the Fix'd Stars, but was too laxe as to the Account of the Time; so that this most doubtful and uncertain Comet, only deserves to be inserted in our Catalogue, for the sake of its appearing near 400 Years ago.
  • [I]n the Year 1472, which being the swiftest of all, and nearest to the Earth, was observ'd by Regiomantanus. This Comet (fo frightful upon the Account both of the Magnitude of its Body,and the Tail) mov'd Forty Degrees of a great Circle in the Heavens, in the Space of one Day, and was the first, of which any proper Observations are come down to us.
  • But all those that consider'd Comets, until the Time of Ticho Brahe (that great Restorer of Astronomy) believ'd them to be below the Moon, and so took but little Notice of them, reckoning them no other than Vapours.
  • But in the Year 1577, (Ticho seriously pursuing the Study of the Stars, and having gotten large Instruments for the Performing Cœlestial Mensurations, with far greater Care and Certainty, than the Ancients cou'd ever hope for) there appear'd a very remarkable Comet; to the Observation of which, Ticho vigorously applied himself; and found by many just and faithful Trials, that it had not a Diurnal Parallax that was at all perceptible: And consequently was not only no Aireal Vapour, but also much higher than the Moon; nay, might be plac'd amongst the Planets for any thing that appear'd to the Contrary; the cavilling Opposition made by some of the School-men in the mean time, being to no Purpose.
  • Next to Ticho, came the Sagacious Kepler. He having the Advantage of Ticho's Labours and Observations, found out the true Physical System of the World, and vastly improv'd the Astronomical Science.
    For he demonstrated that all the Planets perform their Revolutions in Elliptick Orbits, whose 'Plains pass thro' the Center of the Sun, observing this Law, That the Area's (of the Elliptick Sectors, taken at the Center of the Sun, which he proved to be in the common Focus of these Ellipses) are always proportional to the Times, in which the correspendent Elliptical Arches are describ'd. He discover'd also, That the Distances of the Planets from the Sun are in the Sesquialtera Ratio [3:2] of the Periodical Times, or (which is all one) That the Cubes of the Distances are as the Squares of the Times. This great Astronomer had the Opportunity of observing Two Comets, one of which was a very remarkable one. And from the Observations of these (which afforded sufficient Indications of an Annual Parallax) he concluded, That the Comets mov'd freely thro' the Planetary Orbs, with a Motion not much different from a Rectilinear one; but of what Kind, he cou'd not then precisely determine.
  • Next, Hevelius (a Noble Emulator of Ticho Brahe) following in Kepler's Steps, embraced the same Hypothesis of the Rectilinear Motion of Comets, himself accurately observing many of them. Yet, he complain'd, that his Calculations did not perfectly agree to the Matter of Fact in the Heavens: And was aware, that the Path of a Comet was bent into a Curve Line towards the Sun.
  • At length, came that prodigious Comet of the Year 1680, which descending (as it were) from an infinite Distance Perpendicularly towards the Sun, arose from him again with as great a Velocity.
    This Comet, (which was Seen for Four Months continually) by the very remarkable and peculiar Curvity of its Orbit (above all others) gave the fittest Occasion for investigating the Theory of the Motion. And the Royal Observatories at Paris and Greenwich having been for some time founded, and committed to the Care of most excellent Astronomers, the apparent Motion of this Comet was most accurately (perhaps as far as Humane Skill cou'd go) observ'd by Mrs. Cassini and Flamsteed.
  • Not long after, that Great Geometrician, the Illustrious Newton, writing his Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy, demonstrated not only that what Kepler had found, did necessarily obtain in the Planetary System; but also, that all the Phænomena of Comets wou'd naturally follow from the same Principles; which he abundantly illustrated by the Example of the aforesaid Comet of the Year 1680, shewing, at the same time, a Method of Delineating the Orbits of Comets Geometrically; wherein he (not without the highest Admiration of all Men) solv'd a Problem, whose Intricacy render'd it worthy of himself. This Comet he prov'd to move round the Sun in a Parabolical Orb, and to describe Area's (taken at the Center of the Sun) proportional to the Times.
  • Wherefore (following the Steps of so Great a Man) I have attempted to bring the same Method to Arithmetical Calculation; and that with desired Success. For, having collected all the Observations of Comets I could, I fram'd this Table, the Result of a prodigious deal of Calculation, which, tho' but small in Bulk, will be no unacceptable Present to Astronomers. For these Numbers are capable of Representing all that has been yet observ'd about the Motion of Comets, by the Help only of the following General Table; in the making of which I spar'd no Labour, that it might come forth perfect, as a Thing consecrated to Posterity, and to last as long as Astronomy it self.
  • The Astreonomical Elements of the Motions in a Parabolick Orb of all the Comets that have been hitherto duly obferv'd. ...This Table needs little Explication, since 'tis plain enough from the Titles, what the Numbers mean. Only it maybe observ'd, that the Perihelium Distances, are estimated in such Parts, as the Middle Distance of the Earth from the Sun, contains 100000.
  • The Construction and Use of the general Table.

    As the Planets move in Elliptick Orbs, so do the Comets in Parabolick ones, having the Sun in their common Focus, and describe equal Areas in equal Times. But now because all Parabolas are similar to one another, therefore if any determinate Part of the Area of a given Parabola, be divided into any Number of Parts at Liberty, there will be a like Division made in all Parabolas, under the same Angles, and the Distances will be proportional: And consequently this one Table of ours will serve for all Comets.

  • These necessary Things premis'd, let it be propos'd to compute the apparent Place of any one of the mention'd Comets, for any Given Time.
  • 5. From these Things given (by the very same Rules that we find the Planets Places, from the Suns Place and Distance given) we may obtain the Apparent or Geocentrick Place of the Comet, together with the Apparent Latitude. And this it may be worth while to illustrate by an Example or two.
  • After this manner... the Astronomical Reader may examine these Numbers, which I have calculated, with all imaginable Care, from the Observations I have met with. And I have not thought fit to make them publick before they have been duly examin'd, and made as accurate as 'twas possible, by the Study of many Years. I have publish'd this Specimen of Cometical Astronomy, as a Prodromus of a designed future Work, left, happening to die, these Papers might be lost, which every Man is not capable to retrieve, by reason of the great Difficulty of the Calculation.
  • By comparing together the Accounts of the Motions of these Comets, 'tis apparent, their Orbits are dispos'd in no manner of Order; nor can they, as the Planets are, be comprehended within a Zodiack, but move indifferently every Way, as well Retrograde as Direct; from whence it is clear, they are not carry'd about or mov'd in Vortices. Moreover, the Distances in their Perihelium's are sometimes greater, sometimes less; which makes me suspect, there may be a far greater Number of them, which moving in Regions more remote from the Sun, become very obscure; and wanting Tails, pass by us unseen.
  • Hitherto I have consider'd the Orbits of Comets as exactly Parabolick; upon which Supposition it wou'd follow, that Comets being impell'd towards the Sun by a Centripetal Force, descend as from Spaces infinitely distant, and by their Falls acquire such a Velocity, as that they may again run off into the remotest Parts of the Universe, moving upwards with such a perpetual Tendency, as never to return again to the Sun. But since they appear frequently enough, and since none of them can be found to move with an Hyperbolick Motion, or a Motion swifter than what the... Comet might acquire by its Gravity to the Sun, 'tis highly probable they rather move in very Excentrick Orbits, and make their Returns after long Periods of Time: For so their Number will be determinate, and, perhaps, not so very great. Besides, the Space between the Sun and the fix'd Stars is so immense, that there is Room enough for a Comet to revolve, tho' the Period of its Revolution be vastly long.
  • The principal Use therefore of this Table of the Elements of their Motions, and that which induced me to construct it, is, That whenever a new Comet shall appear, we may be able to know, by comparing together the Elements, whether it be any of those which has appear'd before, and consequently to determine its Period, and the Axis of its Orbit, and to foretell its Return. And, indeed, there are many Things which make me believe that the Comet which Apian observ'd in the Year 1531, was the same with that which Kepler and Longomontanus took Notice of and describ'd in the Year 1607, and which I my self have seen return, and observ'd in the Year 1682.
  • All the Elements agree, and nothing seems to contradict this my Opinion, besides the Inequality of the Periodick Revolutions: Which Inequality is not so great neither, as that it may not be owing to Physical Causes. For the Motion of Saturn is so disturbed by the rest of the Planets, especially Jupiter, that the Periodick Time of that Planet is uncertain for some whole Days together. How much more therefore will a Comet be subject to such like Errors, which rises almost Four times higher than Saturn, and whose Velocity, tho' encreased but a very little, would be sufficient to change its Orbit, from an Elliptical to a Parabolical one.
  • [I]n the Year 1456, in the Summer time, a Comet was seen passing Retrograde between the Earth and the Sun, much after the same Manner: Which, tho' no Body made Observations upon it, yet from its Period, and the Manner of its Transit, I cannot think different from those I have just now mention'd. Hence I dare venture to foretell, That it will return again in the Year 1758. And, if it should then return, we shall have no Reason to doubt but the rest must return too: Therefore Astronomers have a large Field to exercise themselves in for many Ages, before they will be able to know the Number of these many and great Bodies revolving about the common Center of the Sun; and reduce their Motions to certain Rules.
  • I design to treat of all these Things in a larger Volume, and contribute my utmost for the Promotion of this Part of Astronomy, if it shall please God to continue my Life and Health.
  • In the mean time, those that desire to know how to construct Geometrically the Orb of a Comet, by Three accurate Observations given, may find it at the End of the Third Book of Sir Isaac Newton's Principles of Natural Philosophy, entituled De Systemate Mundi, in the Words of its renowned Inventor. Which have since been more fully explained by my very worthy Collegue Dr. Gregory, in his Learned Work of Astronomia Physica & Geometrica.

Quotes about Halley

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  • Principia's production was not without drama. ...
    ... The Royal Society had promised to publish the work, but now pulled out, citing financial embarrassment. The year before the society had backed a costly flop called The History of Fishes, and they now suspected that the market for a book on mathematical principles would be less than clamorous. Halley, whose means were not great, paid for the book's publication out of his own pocket. Newton, as was his custom, contributed nothing. To make matters worse, Halley at this time had just accepted a position as the society's clerk, and he was informed that the society could no longer afford to provide him with a promised salary of £50 per annum. He was to be paid instead in copies of The History of Fishes.
  • I will add another thing which I also had from Dr. Bentley himself. Mr. Halley was then thought of for successor, to be in a mathematick professorship at Oxford; and bishop Stillingfleet was desired to recommend him at court; but hearing that he was a sceptick, and a banterer of religion, he scrupled to be concern'd; 'till his chaplain, Mr. Bentley, should talk with him about it; which he did. But Mr. Halley was so sincere in his infidelity, that he would not so much as pretend to believe the christian religion, tho' he thereby was likely to lose a professorship; which he did accordingly; and it was then given to Dr. Gregory: Yet was Mr. Halley afterwards chosen into the like professorship there, without any pretence to the belief of christianity. Nor was there any enquiry made about my successor Mr. Sanderson's christianity, even when the university of Cambridge had just banished me for believing and examining it so throughly, that I hazarded all I had in the world for it.
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