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Astro*Dictionary by Michael Erlewine

 

 

 

 

2 articles for "Titius"

Titius, Johann D. [Astro*Index]

Astronomer.

Best-known for a footnote in a book he was translating. He shares credit for the mathematical curiosity known as the Titius-Bode Law, a formula for the distances of the successive planets from the sun.

See also:
♦ Titius-bode Law
Titius-Bode Law [Astro*Index]

A mathematical curiosity named after Johann D. Titius and Johann E. Bode.

The formula: D = (3n+4)/10, n=0,1,2,... gives approximate mean distances (in AUs) for the planets, where n=0 represents Mercury, n=1 represents Venus, n=2, Earth, etc. The values for Ceres, the largest of the asteroids, has been used for n=4. The formula gives a poor values for Neptune and Pluto.

The following table compares the results obtained from the formula (D), with the actual value (a):

 

nPlanetDa
0Mercury0.40.39
1Venus0.70.72
2Earth1.01.00
3Mars1.61.52
4(Ceres)2.82.7
5Jupiter5.25.2
6Saturn10.09.5
7Uranus19.619.2
8Neptune38.830.1
9Pluto77.239.4

The values for Ceres, the largest of
the asteroids, has been used for n=4.

 

See also:
♦ Titius, Johann D. ♦ Bode, Johann Elert ♦ Richardson's Formula

 

Astro*Index Copyright © 1997 Michael Erlewine

 

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