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Mādhava’s Rule for Finding Angle Between the Ecliptic and the Horizon and Āryabhata’s Knowledge of it

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

R.C. Gupta*
Affiliation:
Birla Institute of Technology, P.O. Mesra, Ranchi 835215, India

Extract

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In Fig.1, let U be the rising point of the ecliptic (udayalagna), T be the nonagesimal (tribhona-lagna) and M be the meridianecliptic point (madhya-lagna). Since T is at a distance of one quadrant from U along the ecliptic, the complement of the zenith distance of, that is the arc TK, will be the required angle between the ecliptic UTM and the horizon NUEKS. The equivalent problem in Indian astronomy is therefore to find what is called ‘dṛkkṣepa-jyā’ or the sine of the zenith distance of the nonagesimal.

Type
Mediaeval Astronomy
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

References

Gupta, R.C. (1974). Some Important Indian Mathematical Methods as conceived in Sanskrit Language. Indological Studies, Vol.3 (Pusalker Commemoration Vol.), Nos.1-2, pp.5355, New Delhi: University of Delhi.Google Scholar
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