2011/12/15 by Todd Timberlake, Timberlake, Todd
Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA) #FOS: Physical sciences #Historical Astronomy and Related Studies #History and Developments in Astronomy #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.GA #physics.hist-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1112.3635
9 pages, 6 figures
arxiv created 2011/12/15 · openalex publication_date 2011/12/15 · arxiv updated 2015/03/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In 1785 astronomer William Herschel mapped out the shape of the Milky Way star system using measurements he called "star-gages." Herschel's star-gage method is described in detail, with particular attention given to the assumptions on which the method is based. A computer simulation that allows the user to apply the star-gage method to several virtual star systems is described. The simulation can also be used to explore what happens when Herschel's assumptions are violated. This investigation provides a modern interpretation for Herschel's map of the Milky Way and why it failed to accurately represent the size and shape of our galaxy.