One of the articles mentioned that the dates recorded by Thomas Harriot were using a different calendar than the current one (Gregorian vs. Julian or something like that), so the dates are 10 days off. I don't remember which way though. Rich Allen Jim Gibson wrote:
SeasonΒ’s Greetings all!! Happy days are here again especially now that the sky is clearing somewhat.
I am sometimes curious if my planetarium software (Starry Nights Pro Plus 6) is telling me the truth. I was up early this morning (Wed 31st) and set up in my back yard in north Orem (4 a.m.ish). I came in the house to check something on my planetarium software when I noticed a satellite on my laptop screen about to pass through where I had been looking with my telescope. I ran outside and peered through my 9X50 finder scope and to my delight I saw the satellite go through my field of view confirming my planetarium software was accurate.
Later on while reading my email, I read with interest KurtΒ’s (canopus56) post Β‘Thomas Harriot - first reported astronomical telescope use.Β’ I ran my trusty software back to July 26, 1609 and changed the viewing location to London England and compared. http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/harriot_moon1609_726.gif
I am guessing that the smudge at the top of the sketch would be Grimaldi. My software showed a waning crescent 25 days old with the terminator very much closer to the western (eastern?) edge with about 10% - 15% exposed in sunlight.
The other picture http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/harriot_moon1610_717.gif was sketched 17 July 1610. This sketch is very different from the first sketch Harriot made. So to compare I ran my planetarium software to 1610 . What I saw looked very much like what my planetarium software showed me for the year before; a waning crescent moon 26 days old with Grimaldi being the prominent creator.
I give the guy the benefit of the doubt this being all so very new to him; Harriot observingt and recording.
What I would like to know if anyone with different software has run theirs back and gotten different results than what I described? I saved images of what my results were but I don't know how to make them available.
Thanks
Jim
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