Metius

For the crater, see Metius (crater).

Accomplishments

Though he scoffed at astrology, Metius is said to have spent a lot of time pursuing alchemy, especially the philosophers' stone.

Related Topics:
Astrology - Alchemy - Philosophers' stone

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Metius published treatises on the astrolabe and on surveying. His works include Arithmeticæ et geometriæ practica (1611), Institutiones Astronomicae Geographicae, and Arithmeticæ libri duo: et geometriæ libri VI (1640). Metius also manufactured astronomical instruments, and developed a special form of Jacob's staff.

Related Topics:
Astrolabe - Surveying - 1611 - 1640 - Jacob's staff

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In 1585, his father had found for the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, later called pi, the approximate value 355/113. Metius later published his father's results, and the value 355/113 is traditionally referred to as Metius' number.http://kr.cs.ait.ac.th/~radok/math/mat4/m41.htm

Related Topics:
1585 - Pi

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The lunar crater Metius is named after him.

Related Topics:
Lunar crater - Metius

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In Vermeer's painting The Astronomer (1668), the book lying on the table has been indentified as a 1621 second edition of Metius's Institutiones Astronomicae Geographicae. It is open to Book III, where "inspiration from God" is recommended for astronomical research along with knowledge of geometry and the aid of mechanical instruments.http://essentialvermeer.20m.com/cat_about/astronomer.htm

Related Topics:
Vermeer's - 1668

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