Much of his time, while an undergraduate, was passed in Essex with
his maternal uncle, the Rev. James Pound, who was a well-known man of
science and a diligent observer of the stars. It was doubtless by
intercourse with his uncle that young Bradley became so expert in the
use of astronomical instruments, but the immortal discoveries he
subsequently made show him to have been a born astronomer.
The first exhibition of Bradley's practical skill seems to be
contained in two observations which he made in 1717 and 1718. They
have been published by Halley, whose acuteness had led him to
perceive the extraordinary scientific talents of the young
astronomer. Another illustration of the sagacity which Bradley
manifested, even at the very commencement of his astronomical career,
is contained in a remark of Halley's, who says: "Dr. Pound and his
nephew, Mr. Bradley, did, myself being present, in the last
opposition of the sun and Mars this way demonstrate the extreme
minuteness of the sun's parallax, and that it was not more than
twelve seconds nor less than nine seconds." To make the significance
of this plain, it should be observed that the determination of the
sun's parallax is equivalent to the determination of the distance
from the earth to the sun.
Pages:
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211