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Why was the transit of Venus - really - so important in the determination
of the size of the solar system? Although a transit of Mercury has a less
favorable geometry, i.e., all other things being equal the accuracy is less, it
happens all the time. Wasn't it used? Coulnd't the frequency of measurements
make up for the accuracy? And what about measurements of Mars? I would expect
that precise measurements of Mars relative to background stars would be easier
than Venus relative to the Sun. Or is the decisive trick converting a
measurement of angle to a measurement of time? And what was the first ever
method used? That using the Moon? (Trangulate from different points on the Earth
to the Moon and then triangulate to the Sun by observing the edge of the shadow
line on the Moon.)
Thanks.
--Art Carlson
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- Transit of Venus: and another thing I don't understand ... DrArthurCarlson
