17th Century Photometric Data in the Form of Johannes Hevelius's Telescopic Measurements of the Apparent Diameters of Stars

TL;DR

This paper analyzes Johannes Hevelius's 1662 star measurements, revealing that his telescopic data provides surprisingly precise photometric information consistent with a simple model.

Contribution

It uncovers the detailed photometric data in Hevelius's 17th-century star measurements, highlighting their precision and potential scientific value.

Findings

Hevelius's measurements are consistent with modern photometric data.

The data conforms to a simple, effective model of star brightness.

The measurements are more precise than previously recognized.

Abstract

Johannes Hevelius's 1662 Mercurius in Sole Visus Gedani contains a table of magnitudes and apparent telescopic diameters of nineteen stars. The data conform to a simple model, suggesting that Hevelius produced what is essentially a table of surprisingly precise photometric data.