An Introduction to Practical Astronomy: Volume 1
Containing Tables for Facilitating the Reduction of Celestial Observations, and a Popular Explanation of their Construction and Use
Cambridge Library Collection - Astronomy Series

Although astronomical guides were available in the early nineteenth century, they tended to come from continental presses and were rarely in English. This two-volume work by the clergyman and astronomer William Pearson (1767?1847) aimed, with brilliant success, to compile data from extant sources into one of the first English practical guides to astronomy. Most of the tables were updated and improved versions, and some were wholly reconstructed to streamline the calculation processes. Sir John Herschel dubbed it 'one of the most important and extensive works on that subject which has ever issued from the press', and for his efforts Pearson was awarded the gold medal of the Astronomical Society. First published in 1824, Volume 1 chiefly comprises extensive tables to facilitate the reduction of a range of astronomical observations, including solar and sidereal movements, alongside thorough instructions. In the history of science, Pearson's work reflects the contemporary challenges of celestial study.

Preface; Refractions; Precessions; Zach's constants; New general table; Universal tables by Delambre; Differential tables by Zach; Diurnal aberration; General tables by Gauss; Longitudes and latitudes; Meridian; Terrestrial graduation; Time; 48 principal stars; Bessel's table of 1818; Solar tables; Lunar tables; Zodiacal tables; Circle; Planetary tables; Pole star; Catalogues; Additional tables; Appendix.