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Added by Arxiv Bot | Added: 2026-03-02 18:00 | Views: 1 | Source: arXiv Dataset IDs (Model)

First Description of Discrete Stars Composing the Milk Way in Thomas Watson's Hekatompathia (1582)

Authors	Eric Lewin Altschuler, William Jansen
Categories	physics.hist-ph
ArXiv ID	physics/0305010
URL	https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0305010

Abstract

We note that the first unambiguous description of the Milk Way as being composed of a large number of discrete stars is in Sonnet 31 of Thomas Watson's (d 1592) Hekatompathia (1582), nearly 30 years before Galileo's description. We discuss implications of this early description.

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    "abstract": "We note that the first unambiguous description of the Milk Way as being\ncomposed of a large number of discrete stars is in Sonnet 31 of Thomas Watson\u0027s\n(d 1592) Hekatompathia (1582), nearly 30 years before Galileo\u0027s description. We\ndiscuss implications of this early description.",
    "arxiv_id": "physics/0305010",
    "authors": [
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      "William Jansen"
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    "title": "First Description of Discrete Stars Composing the Milk Way in Thomas   Watson\u0027s Hekatompathia (1582)",
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