BIB_ID
193757
Accession number
MA 4007
Creator
Méchain, Pierre François André, 1744-1804.
Display Date
1780 June 7-1803.
Credit line
Purchase; Mr. and Mrs. James R. Houghton and Mr. and Mrs. John Macomber; 1984.
Description
11 items (28 p.) ; 24.7 cm.
Notes
Some with addresses.
Summary
Concerning his cartographical work, his astronomical observations, and his geodetic measurements which determined the metric unit of length. The letter of 1780 June 7 concerns the cartographical position of Danzig and contains an analysis of various astronomical observations of La Hire, Hevelius, Cassini, Thomas Streete, and Halley; the letter of 1783 Sept. 3 contains a detailed account of his observation of a lunar eclipse. Other letters concern his attempts to make geodetic measurements in southern France and Spain in order to establish the length of the meter. With frequent references to his partner Delambre.
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