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Mesure des trois premiers degrés du méridien dans l'hémisphere austral: Tirée des observations de Mrs. de l'Académie royale des sciences, envoyés par le roi sous l'équateur

 
HOLLIS Number
Contributors
La Condamine, Charles-Marie de, 1701-1774
Publication
Paris: Imprimerie royale, 1751

Description

Digital facsimile

[12], 266, x p., 3 folded leaves of plates : ill. ; 26 cm. (4to)

Engraved title vignette (globe).

Engraved head-pieces; head-and tail-pieces.

"Fautes à corriger": p. [3]-[4].

"The official account of the French Scientific Expedition to South America, measuring an arc of the meridian at the Equator for more accurately determining the dimensions and figure of the earth." Cf. Sabin 38483.

"Another notable zenith sector of the period was that employed by La Condamine in the course of his geodetic operations in South America." Described in the present work. cf. Wolf, A. History of science, technology, and philosophy in the 18th cent., p. 134.

The French Academy sent two expeditions in 1735, one to the Arctic region, the other to the Equator. The purpose of these expeditions was to take measurements of an area of the meridian to determine the dimensions and figure of the earth more accurately. The principal members of the French group were La Condamine, Pierre Bouger, and Louis Godin. Quito was chosen as the place to take the actual measurements, because of its location near the equator. A major conclusion of the expedition, together with the results from the Polar region, was that the earth was flatter around the Poles, as had been theorized by Newton. After the expedition's return to France, a controversy arose between Bouger and La Condamine. Important scientific information is provided in this expedition, as well as a unique and valuable account of Ecuador and the Andean terrain during the eighteenth century.

Includes index.

 

Language

French
 

Subject

Arc measures -- Early works to 1800.; Meridians (Geodesy) -- Early works to 1800.; Geodesy -- Early works to 1800.; Scientific expeditions -- South America -- Early works to 1800.