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Print (Engraving) The Geography of the Transit of Venus Explained, by Benjamin Martin, London, 1760

Inventory Number 14375

Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.14375

Item type
Object
Provenance
Radcliffe Observatory Collection, Oxford.
Primary inscriptions
The Geography of the Transit of Venus Explained. The Astronomical Uses of this Transit are to determine the Sun's Horizontal Parallax and Distance from the Earth. From whence the Distances of all the Planets and Comets from the Sun will be ascertained to the Greatest Exactness that can ever the Expected. Published according to the Act of Parliament. September 1st 1760 by B. Martin.
Physical material
Laid paper
Physical medium
Black ink
Physical technique
Engraving
Object type
Print
Dimensions
Height: 508mm Width: 391mm
Inventory No
14375

Description

Martin explains the visibility of the transit of 1761 by giving three views of the earth, showing the hemisphere facing the sun at the beginning, middle and end of the transit. This is the only known surviving copy of his print.

There was much discussion before the 18th-century transits of the best places from which to make observations. Several authors compiled maps to help in the decision-making process.

This sheet has a more didactic and popular purpose. It is intended to explain the visibility of a transit, and shows three views of the Earth at different moments during the transit of 1761. The views represent the face of the Earth illuminated by the Sun at the beginning, middle and end of the transit. By inspection it is possible to estimate how much of the transit will be visible at any particular place.

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