EXHIBITS

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Paradoxes

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This page of Turner's Compendium begins his section on Curious Astronomical Observations and Paradoxes.

   

     The observations that Richard Turner presents in his books couldn't fully capture the truth of what is out there due to lack of technology and prior knowledge of the solar system and the various objects observed, or not observed, in space at the time.

     Succeeding A View of the Heavens, Turner includes a list of "Astronomical Paradoxes," or problems, that he encounters in his research.  Some of these problems include:

Paradox IV: "There is a certain island near the continent of Europe, some of whose inhabitants are of such exquisite sight, that even with one of their eyes, they can actually behold 10 moons, real and true, all at once above the horizon; and also ten times the number of stars beheld by others with both their eyes at the same instant" [1].

  • Turner describes here what can be considered light pollution.  Observing stars in more remote places makes them visible. The fact that he could observe "ten times the number of stars" than others from this vantage point shows he is referring to light pollution altering the number of stars that are observable at any point on the Earth.

Paradox VII: "There is one certain place in the universe, where the planets, both inferior and superior, may be constantly seen to move forwards, in the same regular and uniform manner, though, to most places of the Earth, they appear (at the same time ) to move very unequally; and, sometimes, they seem to run back; and at other times, not to move at all" [2].

  • In this paradox, Turner is describing the perspective under which the Earth resides in the solar system.  From the vantage point of the Sun, since it is in the center of the solar system, each planet moves around in a consistent and even manner.  However, since the Earth is in between planets, the perspective of each planet can sometimes be skewed based on where they are in their respective orbits of the Sun. 
Work Cited:
  1. Richard Turner, A View of the Heavens: being a short but comprehensive system of modern astronomy…, (London: Printed for S. Crowder, in Pater-noster-Row; and S. Gamidge, bookseller, in Worcester, 1765), in Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library Department of Special Collections and Archives, COLL V OV 74 pt. A, 56.
  2. Ibid.
Image Source:
Richard Turner, A View of the Heavens: being a short but comprehensive system of modern astronomy…, (London: Printed for S. Crowder, in Pater-noster-Row; and S. Gamidge, bookseller, in Worcester, 1765), in Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library Department of Special Collections and ArchivesCOLL V OV 74 pt. A.