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Logic 141

undertook the calculation of the latitudes from his elliptic theory without knowing whether the calculation would agree with the observation or not; but it was founf that it did so most admirably.
He then went back to the longitudes and applied another test of the success of which he could know nothing beforehand.
What he had so far found was that the planet was at the time of observations always in the direction in which it ought to be.
But was it at the right distance?
This could not be quite positively ascertained.
But he could take two times at which Mars had been observed and at which according to the elliptic theory (which in that respect would hardly be in error) it was at the same point of its orbit but at which it was certain that the earth was at widely different points in its orbit.
The orbit of the earth is so nearly circular that there could be no doubt where it was at these times.
These two places and the place of Mars (supposed the same at the two times)

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