Description

AN IMPORTANT ACCOUNT OF AN 19th CENTURY EXPEDITION TO MEASURE THE DISTANCE OF THE SUN SIX MONTHS IN ASCENSION By Mrs. Gill 1878 First Edition in a quarter leather binding. Illustrated with a map and a few small diagrams. VG+ condtion. Description: Mrs. Isobel Sarah Gill SIX MONTHS IN ASCENSION: An Unscientific Account of a Scientific Expedition London: John Murray, 1878, 4.5 x 7.5 in., 285 pp. one map and several small diagrams. Condition: Hardbound in quarter leather over marbled boards. Gilt title on spine. Withdrawal stamps from Canada Library of Parliament. Slight marginal ink stain on a first few pages (see photos) and title page starting to detach. Otherwise clean, very tightly bound, and unmarked throughout. Overall VG+ condition, an attractive volume. Information: A fascinating account written by a scientist's wife, of an expedition to the south Atlantic island of Ascension to make observations of the parallax of Mars by astronomer David Gill. The observations provided an alternative measure of the distance to the sun--and a more accurate one than the globe-spanning expeditions of the 1700's and late 1800s to view rare transits of Venus. Mrs. Gill chronicles the difficulties of the voyage and the life and natural surroundings of a place that remains one of the more remote inhabited places on Earth. A scarce first edition in a nice binding. Biographical Note: Sir David Gill (1843 –1914) was a Scottish astronomer who is known for measuring astronomical distances, for astrophotography and geodesy. He spent much of his career in South Africa. He was educated first at Bellevue Academy in Aberdeen then at Dollar Academy. He spent two years at Aberdeen University, where he was taught by James Clerk Maxwell, and then joined his father's clock-making business. His most important influence at university was probably from Prof David Thomson. In 1863 they jointly repaired the university clock and both set up a new mechanical telescope at the Cromwell Tower Observatory. This was his introduction to astronomy. In 1874, Gill joined the expedition to Mauritius to observe the transit of Venus. Three years later he went to Ascension Island to observe a near approach of Mars and to calculate its distance. While carrying out these laborious calculations, he was notified of his appointment to the Cape Observatory, which, over the following 27 years he was to refurbish completely, turning it into a first-rate institution. Gill was a meticulous observer and had a flair for getting the best out of his instruments. His solar parallax observations with a heliometer and his calculations of distances to the nearer stars, are testimony to his outstanding work. VISIT MY EBAY STORE FOR OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST(Click This Link) All reasonable offers will be considered. Please inquire about discounts for purchases of multiple items. Shipping: Free media rate shipping in US. Higher international postage as appropriate (See the Shipping and Payment tab on this listing for an estimate and contact us before bidding if you have questions). We make every attempt to describe items clearly and completely. Please read our listings carefully, inspect posted images of the item, and let us know if you have any questions before you bid. All buyers must pay according to Ebay policies. If you have any questions about this, please email me. International bidders should contact me for a quote on shipping before bidding. Whenever possible, international shipping will be via Ebay Standard International Delivery. Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying .