DISCOVERY OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE SUN - PMM 227

HERSCHEL, WILLIAM.

On the Proper Motion of the Sun and Solar System.

London, Lockyer Davis and Peter Elmsly, 1783. 4to. In recent marbled paper wrappers. Extracted from "Philosophical Transactions", vol. 73. Including title-page of volume. A few leaves reinforced in margin. (3), iv, (247)-284 pp. + three folded plates.

First appearance of Herschel's famous paper in which he documented his discovery of the movement of the sun and of the entire solar system with it. "Between 1780 and 1821 Sir Herschel produced some seventy papers, mostly published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. These were the results of his astronomical observations which have earned him the title of 'Farther of sidereal astronomy'. The present paper is one of the most important in the series." (PMM 227)

"Herschel analyzed the individual motions of a small number of stars, showing that most of their observed motions were actually the result of the movement of our solar system through space." (Norman).

PMM 227
Norman 1059

Order-nr.: 56994