It's fascinating. The author has managed to write one of the best books on science and history I've ever read. He explains the development of different ideas, talks about the great astronomers of antiquity, and then provides practical examples and explains how the reader can duplicate the same experiments.
I learned how to read armillary spheres and astrolabes, how to determine the sun's angle with a sundial, how to determine the right ascension, declination, longitude and latitude of stars, how the ecliptic differs from the celestial horizon, determining true north, etc.
I learned how to read armillary spheres and astrolabes, how to determine the sun's angle with a sundial, how to determine the right ascension, declination, longitude and latitude of stars, how the ecliptic differs from the celestial horizon, determining true north, etc.
Political correctness is the pettiest form of casuistry.
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
ἡ δὲ κἀκ τριῶν τρυπημάτων ἐργαζομένη ἐνεκάλει τῇ φύσει, δυσφορουμένη, ὅτι δὴ μὴ καὶ τοὺς τιτθοὺς αὐτῇ εὐρύτερον ἢ νῦν εἰσι τρυπώη, ὅπως καὶ ἄλλην ἐνταῦθα μίξιν ἐπιτεχνᾶσθαι δυνατὴ εἴη. – Procopius
Ummaka qinnassa nīk!
*MySmiley*
My armillary sphere should be arriving in a couple of days!
20/01/2010 11:44:33 PM
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I am envious. *NM*
21/01/2010 12:47:42 AM
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If you visit NY some time, I'll buy you an armillary sphere as a gift.
21/01/2010 02:37:28 PM
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Re: If you visit NY some time, I'll buy you an armillary sphere as a gift.
21/01/2010 02:42:22 PM
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Not with an armillary sphere ticking away in your luggage, you wouldn't!
22/01/2010 03:29:30 AM
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I had to look up what that was... but it does sound really cool, now that I know. *NM*
21/01/2010 01:14:47 AM
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Yeah, I've been reading a book on ancient astronomy
21/01/2010 02:44:24 PM
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heh, read that as armillary spear....
21/01/2010 05:44:11 AM
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The thought of smoking in my library is abhorrent to every fibre of my being... *NM*
21/01/2010 02:45:36 PM
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Do you have a proper library?
21/01/2010 11:35:15 AM
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You offend me by implying I might not!
21/01/2010 02:28:17 PM
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Good. I was worried I mightn't meet my quota today.
21/01/2010 02:32:53 PM
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Oh, it's nicer now.
21/01/2010 02:46:59 PM
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UPDATE: I updated the pictures.
21/01/2010 04:35:00 PM
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I am.
21/01/2010 04:40:23 PM
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I am as well. *NM*
21/01/2010 10:25:20 PM
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Sent. *NM*
22/01/2010 02:47:30 AM
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Very nice. Is that Chinese calligraphy on the wall? *NM*
22/01/2010 03:32:41 AM
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So many lovely things & books.
23/01/2010 12:30:06 AM
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Nice! I never knew what those were called. *NM*
21/01/2010 08:46:37 PM
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I also got an astrolabe, but I figure you probably knew what those are called. *NM*
22/01/2010 03:24:22 AM
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Interesting. I had no idea such things were still made. Got a link to the company...
22/01/2010 12:40:24 AM
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