454 HISTORY OF FORMAL ASTRONOMY. 



seen, principally on Tycho's observations. Longo- 

 montanus (so called as being a native of Langberg 

 in Denmark,) published in 1621 in his Astronomia 

 Danica, tables founded upon the theories as well 

 as the observations of his countryman. Kepler 1 in 

 1627 published his tables of the planets, which he 

 called Rudolphine Tables, the result and applica- 

 tion of his own theory. In 1633, Lansberg, a Bel- 

 gian, published also Tabulae Perpetuce, a work which 

 was ushered into the world with considerable pomp 

 and pretension, and in which the author cavils very 

 keenly at Kepler and Brahe. We may judge of the 

 impression made upon the astronomical world in 

 general by these rival works, from the account 

 which our countryman Jeremy Horrox has given of 

 their effect on him. He had been seduced by the 

 magnificent promises of Lansberg, and the praises 

 of his admirers, which are prefixed to the work, 

 and was persuaded that the common opinion which 

 preferred Tycho and Kepler to him was a prejudice. 

 In 1636, however, he became acquainted with Crab- 

 tree, another young astronomer, who lived in the 

 same part of Lancashire. By him Horrox was 

 warned that Lansberg was not to be depended on ; 

 that his hypotheses were vicious, and his observa- 

 tions falsified or forced into agreement with his 

 theories. He then read the works and adopted the 

 opinions of Kepler; and after some hesitation which 

 he felt at the thought of attacking the object of his, 



1 Rheticus, Narratio, p. 98. 



