Could not the EOT have always been detected by comparing observations on stars with solar time? Astronomers would know about the 366 vs. 365 days per year, but would notice slight variations about even that - the EOT. I would be surprised if, say, Hipparchus had not know its value.
----- Original Message ----- From: Tom McHugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Ryan Weh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 1999 9:22 AM Subject: Re: Ah hah! (?) (...) I suspect, though, that as soon as the elliptical nature of the earth's orbit was established, that it was quickly realized that there would be an EOT variation, even though clocks may not have been accurate enough to show it. I do not know if there was a mathematical discovery of EOT predating accurate clocks. (...)
