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Old August 13th 18, 08:25 PM posted to sci.astro.amateur
Gerald Kelleher
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Default The expanded story of longitude

There are now many excellent descriptions of timekeeping and the Lat/Long system despite the sullen determination of theorists to hold on to the 23 hour 56 minute 04 second value for a rotation -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7yo...Db7yoXhbOQ 3Y

These descriptions are only half the story which is why so many people over the centuries got themselves into such astronomical difficulties therefore ,of out necessity, it requires the more expansive history of timekeeping which dovetails with the 365/366 days and rotations of the calendar framework.

There are many points of departure, however, a solar eclipse is as good as any to begin the journey back into timekeeping history -

https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/...VZAWoqwPA.jpeg

From observer to horizon each day acts as a sun shield to observations of stars close to the Sun, from observer to horizon as a morning appearance represents stars to the right of the Sun while observer to horizon as the Sun just is out of sight in the evening shows stars to the left of the Sun. Only on a solar eclipse when the moon acts as a sun shield doe observers see the stars both to the left and right of a central Sun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeQwYrfmvoQ&t=7s

Over the course of an orbit those stars close to the plane of the Earth's orbital motion will appear in sequence from left to right thereby proving the Earth orbits the Sun. This event is divorced from stellar circumpolar motion and daily rotation other than a heliacal rising or first annual appearance of a star to the right of the Sun is an orbital marker for rotations.


Without this side of the story it is impossible to enjoy how the 24 hour and Lat/Long system developed within the 1461 day calendar format or indeed where RA/Dec went too far in manipulating the apparent change in position of the stars away the the orbital transition event marked somewhat accurately in written form by the Egyptians -

".. on account of the procession of the rising of Sirius by one day in the course of 4 years,.. therefore it shall be, that the year of 360 days and the 5 days added to their end, so one day shall be from this day after every 4 years added to the 5 epagomenae before the new year" Canopus Decree 238 BC

This type of structural and timekeeping astronomy doesn't admit under developed adults as it is really a new type of astronomy that focuses more on those aspects where the motions of the Earth differ from human timekeeping innovations.