The most comprehensive (indeed almost the only) modern English book on eclipses is the Rev. S. J. Johnson’s,[155] of which frequent use has already been made in these pages. It contains a vast amount of matter put together in a condensed form but the references to authorities are rather defective and deficient. Less comprehensive in one sense yet exceedingly valuable and interesting as a succinct summary of solar eclipse knowledge up to the date of 1896 is Mrs. D. P. Todd’s excellent little volume[156] which has been several times quoted on previous pages. On various occasions in 1890 and following years Professor J. N. Stockwell contributed to the American Astronomical Journal a number of papers[157] discussing in a very interesting and exhaustive manner many of the eclipses recorded by the ancient classical authors. These papers should be consulted by all who desire to realise the value of eclipse records in connection with mundane chronology.
The calculation of eclipses is a matter of some interest. It is beyond the scope of the present work to explain even in outline the methods in use, but with the aid of the books mentioned below[158] a reader possessed of the necessary time, mathematical knowledge, and patience, will be able to pursue this matter as far as his inclination may lead him. Johnson has found very useful the tables given in the eighth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (Article, “Astronomy”) but strange to say these tables do not appear in ninth edition of that famous work.
Lalande[159] has given numerous references to eclipses of the Sun during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries which may be useful to those who wish to work at the history of eclipses.
Footnotes:
[144] Denkschriften der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, vol. lii. Vienna, 1887.
[145] There are several editions of this work in circulation. The first (published in 1783) was in folio volumes, but the best known edition is in a large number of octavo volumes published in 1818 and following years. The eclipse lists will be found in the 1st volumes of the first and second series respectively. The French astronomer, Pingré, is responsible for them.
[146] Published at Bononia (Bologna) in 1653.
[147] Omnia Opera, vol. ii. pp. 311-16. Edited by Ch. Frisch. 8 vols. 8vo. Frankofurti-a-M., 1857-60.
[148] A collected edition of Tycho Brahe’s works, edited by “Lucius Barettus,” was published at Augustæ Vindilicorum (Augsburg) in 1666. Lucius Barettus is an anagram for the real name Albertus Curtius.
[149] J. L. E. Dreyer, Tycho Brahe: a Picture of Scientific Life and Work in the Sixteenth Century.