Mi fcellanea ■ Curio fa. 295 



ther have they had leifure of convenience of 

 putting it in Pra&ice. 



It is concerning the Parallax of the fixed 

 Stars, as to the Earths Annual Orb. ■ 



Galileo complains of it a great while fince 

 (in his Syftema Cofmicum) as a thing not at- 

 tempted to be obferved with fuch diligence 

 as he could wifh, and I doubt we have the 

 fame caufe of complaining Mill. I know that 

 Dr. Hookand Mr. Flamfiead have attempted 

 fomewhat that way, but have defifted before 

 they came to any thing of Certainty. What 

 hath been done to that purpofe abroad I 

 know not. 



Galileo hath fuggefted divers things confi- 

 derable in order to it. 



As to the times of Obfervation } That it 

 Ihould be when the Sun or Earth are in the 

 Tropicks, or as near thereto as may be : Be- 

 caufe at thofe times, if any, will be the 

 greateft difference obfervable in their meri- 

 dional Altitude. 



As to the Stars to be obferved, That they 

 fhould be fuch as are as near as may be to 

 the Pole of the Ecliptick : For fuch as are in 

 the Plain of the Ecliptick, or near unto it, 

 though they may be fometime nearer, fome- 

 time farther from us, (which might fome- 

 what alter their apparent Magnitude, if it 

 were fo much as to be obfervable) yet it 

 would little or nothing alter the Parallac- 

 tick Angle, as Galilelo doth there demon- 

 ftrate. 



He notes alfo, that in a bufinefs fo nice, 

 the ordinary Inftruments of Obfervation 

 (though pretty large) would be infufficient 

 V 3 (he 



