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"An Eclipse is an interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon, or other heavenly body by the intervention of another and non-luminous heavenly body or by its shadow."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Eclipse

"An Eclipse is an interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon, or other heavenly body…

"The elliptical circle being supposed to be the Earth's orbit, with the Sun, S, in one of the foci. Now the spaces, 1, 2, 3, etc., though of different shapes, are of the same dimensions, or contain the same quantity of surface. The Earth, we have already seen, in its journey round the Sun, describes an ellipse, and moves more rapidly in one part of its orbit than in another. But whatever may be its actual velocity, its comparative motion is through equal areas in equal times. Thus its center passes from E to C, and from C to A, in the same period of time, and so of all the other divisions marked in the figure." —Comstock, 1850

Elliptical Orbit

"The elliptical circle being supposed to be the Earth's orbit, with the Sun, S, in one of the foci.…

An illustration of a heliostat or a device that tracks the movement of the sun.

Heliostat

An illustration of a heliostat or a device that tracks the movement of the sun.

"This consists of two lenses, one of which is called the condesner, because it is employed to concentrate the rays of the sun...The other is a double convex lens, of considerable magnifing power, by which the image is magnified." -Comstock 1850

Solar Microscope

"This consists of two lenses, one of which is called the condesner, because it is employed to concentrate…

"Relative distance of the Planets. Having now given a short account of each planet composing the solar system, the relative situation of their several orbits, with the exception of those of the Asteroids, are shown in this figure. The orbits are marked by the signs of each planet, of which the first, or that nearest the Sun, is Mercury, the next Venus, the third the Earth, the fourth Mars then come those of the Asteroids, then Jupiter, then Saturn and lastly Herschel." —Comstock, 1850

Planet Distance

"Relative distance of the Planets. Having now given a short account of each planet composing the solar…

"Circular Motion of the Planets." —Comstock, 1850

Planet Motion

"Circular Motion of the Planets." —Comstock, 1850

"Elliptical Orbits.—It has been supposed that the Sun's attraction, which constitutes the Earth's gravity, was at all times equal, or that the Earth was at an equal distance from the Sun, in all parts of its orbit." —Comstock, 1850

Planet Motion

"Elliptical Orbits.—It has been supposed that the Sun's attraction, which constitutes the Earth's…

"The comparative dimensions of the planets." —Comstock, 1850

Planet Sizes

"The comparative dimensions of the planets." —Comstock, 1850

A diagram showing the planets of our solar system.

Planets

A diagram showing the planets of our solar system.

"Solar Spectrum.—If a ray, proceeding from the sun, be admitted into a darkened chamber, through an aperture in the window shutter, and allowed to pass through a triangular shaped piece of glass, called a prism, the light will be decomposed, and instead of a spot of white, there will be seen, on the opposite wall, a most brilliant display of colors, including all those seen in the rainbow." —Comstock, 1850

Solar Spectrum

"Solar Spectrum.—If a ray, proceeding from the sun, be admitted into a darkened chamber, through…