The popular understanding of how comets were viewed in the medieval period is that they were objects to be feared. It’s not wrong, but it’s also so much more…
2024 in Review
I’m a bit late in getting my reflections of 2024 posted, but better late than never! Continue reading “2024 in Review”
The First Celestial Atlas: De la Stella Fisse
Classes at University of Atlantia
This coming February I will be teaching four classes at the University of Atlantia1. The classes are all offered online and are free. Details on which classes are below the fold. Continue reading “Classes at University of Atlantia”
A History of Constellations Before the Telescope
Christianity & Astronomy Before the Telescope
Christianity is often cited as the reason behind a 1,500 year gap in astronomical knowledge. But others claim that the Church supported astronomy.
As usual, the truth is somewhat more complicated.
A Brief History of Astronomy Before the Telescope
My first real video is up on my YouTube channel.
Astronomy Before the Telescope
In an effort to reach a wider audience, I have decided to start a podcast as a YouTube channel.
To begin, I’ll be converting many of my classes that I’ve created for the SCA into videos. But this channel will also allow me to create content that doesn’t fit into the normal ~50 minute class block at SCA events.
I have a lot planned for this and it will probably be distracting from progress on the Almagest for awhile.
But, for now, here’s a brief intro to the channel.
Almagest Book XI: Calculating Planetary Longitude
With both the planetary mean motion tables, and the tables of anomaly, we’re now ready to calculate planetary longitude.
As with before, Ptolemy explains how this is to be done, but doesn’t provide an example. As such, I’ll follow along with example $14$ from Toomer (in Appendix A). Continue reading “Almagest Book XI: Calculating Planetary Longitude”
Almagest Book XI: Planetary Tables of Anomaly
Chapter $11$ of this book is simply the Planetary Equation Tables. I have transcribed them and make them available as a Google Sheet. Continue reading “Almagest Book XI: Planetary Tables of Anomaly”