Seventeenth Century French Jesuit Longitude Determinations in Asia: on the Art of Rectifying the Clocks
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Two methods of setting clocks to show correct time during the 17th century by French Jesuits in China are investigated and their computations and accuracy are analysed. These methods were used to rectify the clocks used for timings of eclipses of the Galilean moons or for lunar eclipses that in turn were used to determine geographical longitudes by Jesuit missionaries in Siam and China. It is found that the calculations needed, in spite of being quite complicated, were well done and very accurate.
Author: Lars Gislén
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3205494104