Short Wave Venus And The 18th Century Space Race
Jul 19, 2022
The 18th century was a thrilling time for astronomy as expeditions raced to measure Venus during its transit across the sun. Astronomers faced daunting challenges, employing mathematical principles to unlock cosmic mysteries. Concepts like parallax became crucial in determining distances, a revolutionary idea proposed by Edmund Halley. This quest not only advanced our understanding of the solar system but also laid the groundwork for modern astronomical techniques. Fast forward to today, and the Gaia mission is further illuminating cosmic history, showcasing scientists as cosmic archaeologists.
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18th Century Space Race
- Explorers traveled the world to measure Venus's transit across the sun.
- Many faced hardships, and some even died in their pursuit of this scientific goal.
Parallax Explained
- Astronomers used the concept of parallax to measure distances in space.
- Parallax involves observing an object from two different points and noting its apparent shift against a background.
Venus Transit and Parallax
- Edmund Halley proposed using the parallax method with the transit of Venus to determine distances in the solar system.
- By treating Venus as the object of observation and two points on Earth as observation points, the distance to Venus could be calculated.