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Seventeenth Century French Jesuit Longitude Determinations in Asia: : The art of Rectifying Clocks

Gislén, Lars LU (2021) In Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage 24(3). p.770-775
Abstract
Two methods of setting clocks to show correct time during the 17th century by French Jesuits in
China are investigated and their computations and accuracy are analysed. These methods were used to
rectify the clocks used for timings of eclipses of the Galilean moons or for lunar eclipses that in turn were used
to determine geographical longitudes by Jesuit missionaries in Siam and China. It is found that the calculations
needed, in spite of being quite complicated, were well done and very accurate.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Time, Clock, Longitude, Jesuits, China
in
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
volume
24
issue
3
pages
770 - 775
publisher
National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand
external identifiers
  • scopus:85117950152
ISSN
1440-2807
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a976b761-7bfd-4697-bfd0-dc35b4652dc1
alternative location
http://www.narit.or.th/files/JAHH/2021JAHHvol24/2021JAHH...24..770G.pdf
date added to LUP
2021-09-17 12:43:13
date last changed
2024-03-22 18:01:54
@article{a976b761-7bfd-4697-bfd0-dc35b4652dc1,
  abstract     = {{Two methods of setting clocks to show correct time during the 17th century by French Jesuits in <br/>China are investigated and their computations and accuracy are analysed.   These methods were used to <br/>rectify the clocks used for timings of eclipses of the Galilean moons or for lunar eclipses that in turn were used <br/>to determine geographical longitudes by Jesuit missionaries in Siam and China.  It is found that the calculations <br/>needed, in spite of being quite complicated, were well done and very accurate.}},
  author       = {{Gislén, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1440-2807}},
  keywords     = {{Time; Clock; Longitude; Jesuits; China}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{770--775}},
  publisher    = {{National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand}},
  series       = {{Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage}},
  title        = {{Seventeenth Century French Jesuit Longitude Determinations in Asia: : The art of Rectifying Clocks}},
  url          = {{http://www.narit.or.th/files/JAHH/2021JAHHvol24/2021JAHH...24..770G.pdf}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}