Jeremiah Horrocks, astronomer and poet

Abstract

This paper will consider the work of Jeremiah Horrocks, the first astronomer to observe the transit of Venus, with reference to his book on the subject (Venus in sole visa). It also explores a New Zealand connection. The paper focuses on Horrocks's interest in writing poetry, the relationship between his poetry and his astronomical work, and what this can tell us about the development of scientific writing in the seventeenth century.