Other
Scientific paper
Jan 2012
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2012aas...219.9002s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #219, #90.02
Other
Scientific paper
The eighteenth century transits of Venus were regarded as the most important astronomical events of their era. Halley's expectation was that by observing the contact points between the limbs of Venus and the Sun, this distance could be determined to an accuracy of one part in 500. But in the event, it proved otherwise. But, as the British historian Agnes Clerke wrote in 1902: "A transit of Venus seems, at first sight, full of promise for solving the problem of the sun's distance. For nothing would appear easier than to determine exactly either the duration of the passage of a small, dark orb across a large brilliant disc, or the instant of its entry upon or exit from it". But in that word `exactly' what snares and pitfalls lie hid!” In the post-mortem analysis of the disappointing results, astronomers devoted a great deal of effort to understand the sources of errors. They rehearsed their observational techniques by observing, under strictly controlled conditions, transits of artificial planets across artificial Suns, and studied such parameters as attention and reflex reaction. In the process, the transits of Venus provided an important impetus to the early development of experimental psychology.
Sheehan William
Thurber S.
No associations
LandOfFree
Astronomers, Transits of Venus, and the Birth of Experimental Psychology does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Astronomers, Transits of Venus, and the Birth of Experimental Psychology, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Astronomers, Transits of Venus, and the Birth of Experimental Psychology will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1573070