I know WHAT the equation of time is.
What I would like to know is - WHY is it called that?
Isn't an equation supposed to contain an equals (=) sign?
Surely it is really a correction factor?
Should it not go something like:
Local Mean Time = Local Apparent Time + Correction
Anyone know anything about it?
Like WHO named it and WHEN?
Incidentally, if it were treated as suggested above, it would make sure that
(whatever it was called) had the proper sign in front when it appeared in
almanacs, and be far less confusing to navigators! At the moment many of
them learn rules like "when the equation of time is positive you have to
subtract it"!
O.K. that is the way it is and I cannot see it changing now however rational
such a change might be, but I should like to know HOW did it ever come about?
With much curiosity
Frank
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Frank Tapson
C I M T
School of Education
University of Exeter
EXETER
EX1 2LU
U K
Tel: 01392 217113
Fax: 01392 499398
Try our Web site at
http://www.ex.ac.uk/cimt/
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