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卷26 志一 天文一 天象地体里差

Volume 26 Treatises 1: Astronomy 1, Celestial Phenomena, Earth Shape, and Terrestrial Distances

Chapter 26 of 清史稿 · Draft History of Qing
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Chapter 26
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1
· 輿
Dynastic astronomy monographs after Sima Qian's Heavenly Offices are fully descriptive only in the Jin and Sui versions; Tang and Song expanded them, but gaps remain. Yuan observers refined instruments and tightened forecasts, but within a limited empire their cosmological governance still fell short. The Qing unified China, one sage emperor following another. The Kangxi emperor personally mastered calendrical astronomy, devised seven new instruments, and measured the sun, moon, and stars to the second. In surveying terrestrial longitude and latitude he mapped the heavens' span across the sky. Yongzheng, seeing accumulated error over the years, had supervising astronomers adopt elliptical theory. Qianlong, finding gaps in older star catalogs, built the Armillary Sphere and Chronographic Instrument and remeasured the sky. After pacifying Xinjiang and the two Jinchuan campaigns, he ordered li-cha remeasured and entered into the Shixian calendar. Clarity of principle, exactitude of number, refinement of instrument, and density of method were unmatched in earlier ages. This Astronomy Treatise records computational methods and every celestial phenomenon noted in dynastic Veritable Records and observatory logs. After Qianlong 60 the Veritable Records offer no material, so the account stops there.
2
Celestial Phenomena, Earth's Form, and Li-Cha
3
·
The Compilation of Heavenly Phenomena quotes the Chu Ci Heavenly Questions: "The heavens are ninefold round — who designed and measured them? Later astronomers spoke of twelve celestial spheres not as literal shells but as the separate paths of sun, moon, and stars — the "round" of the Chu Ci. To understand celestial spheres one must study their motion against an absolutely fixed reference; only then can expansion and contraction be calculated. Heaven's Way is still and single-minded; its motion is active and direct. An absolutely fixed heaven pairs with earth as inner and outer; all moving bodies wheel within it unceasingly. Without a fixed frame against which to measure motion, even the sage could not perfect his art. Observers stand on earth yet can chart the seven luminaries because motion is measured against what does not move.
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西 宿
"Of the twelve spheres, the outermost is absolutely fixed; next the primum mobile, which defines the poles and equator; next north-south precession; next east-west precession; these two spheres move imperceptibly and astronomers usually ignore them. next the Three Enclosures and Twenty-eight Mansions where fixed stars travel; next Saturn's sphere; next Jupiter's; next Mars's; next the sun's ecliptic; next Venus's; next Mercury's; innermost the moon's white path. Near and far are ranked by distance from earth, known from mutual occultations, eclipses, and relative speed in degrees. The body eclipsed lies above; the eclipser below. The moon blocks the sun in eclipse, proving the sun farther than the moon. The moon occults the five planets; moon and planets occult fixed stars — planets stand above the moon but below the fixed stars. The five planets also occult one another, each at a different distance.
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"The primum mobile, by vast ethereal force, drags all spheres in daily rotation — very fast. Near it, daily rotation is fast and apparent retrograde motion slow. Farther out, daily rotation slows and retrograde motion quickens. Retrograde speed ranks fixed stars slowest, then Saturn and Jupiter, then Mars. The sun, Venus, and Mercury move faster; the moon fastest — another proof of nearness. (closing quotation mark in the source.)
6
西祿西 西退
The Daily Solar Motion Treatise notes: from Ptolemy through Tycho came deferents, epicycles, and eccentrics; Kepler and Cassini made the deferent elliptical. The Lunar Distance Treatise adds: elliptical theory makes the sun's distance from the lunar sphere vary and the lunar deferent center oscillate. Earth center and celestial center diverge by a measurable interval. Taken together, these accounts complete the picture of celestial phenomena.
7
Fixed stars show no parallax or epicycle variation; below Saturn the treatise lists each planet's distance from earth's center from survey data. Distances from earth center:
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Saturn apogee: 11 + 1,042,626/352,606 solar radii;
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Jupiter apogee: 6 + 1,929,408/1,305,590 solar radii;
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Mars apogee: 2 + 6,302,705/5,552,250 solar radii;
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Sun: mean epicycle 1,162 earth radii; ellipse 20,975 earth radii;
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Venus apogee: 7,545,644/10,000,000 solar radius above the sun; perigee equally below;
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Mercury apogee: 4,532,155/10,000,000 solar radius above the sun; perigee equally below;
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Moon: mean epicycle 58.16 earth radii at syzygy; ellipse 63.77 earth radii.
15
西 西 西
On earth's form: armillary cosmologists say heaven encloses earth like a shell around a yolk. The Inner Classic records: "The Yellow Emperor asked, 'Is earth truly beneath us? Qibo answered, 'Earth lies below humanity, suspended in the Great Void.' The emperor asked, 'On what does it rest?' Qibo said, 'The Great Principle holds it up.'" The Great Dai Rites records Danju Li asking Zengzi, 'Heaven is round and earth square — is that true? Zengzi replied, 'If heaven were round and earth square, the corners would not align.' I heard the Master say, "Heaven's Way is called round; earth's Way is called square."' Shao Yong of the Song asked, "On what does heaven rely? On earth. It relies on earth; On what does earth attach? To heaven. On what do heaven and earth attach to each other? They attach to each other. Mutually attaching: heaven by form, earth by qi." Cheng Yi said, "By gnomon shadow, thirty thousand li marks the center; it seems finite, yet at fifteen thousand li on one side heaven and earth still move as before. The center is only the center for a given moment." He also said, "People define the heavens only by sight — where the eye stops, they call that the edge. Yet at sea ten bright stars appeared south of the pole, so our celestial map remains uncertain. The sun and moon move within thirty thousand li of center, while China reaches only Shanshan and Yarkand — half that span. From there the sun would still appear at the same central distance. At Zezhou, Bochun ate chives three times — from Huai, Ze, and Bing — and found climate three months apart within hundreds of li. Extrapolated, the difference would reach half a year. One place could have winter solstice while another had summer solstice — merely opposite seasons." (closing quotation mark in the source.) Zhu Xi's Heavenly Questions commentary: heaven is round like a pellet; its rotation has no solid body, only a whirl of fierce wind. Earth is condensed qi, held aloft in that whirl so long that it seems to float without falling." Westerners hold the earth a perfect sphere with inhabitants on every side, opposite seasons and reversed day and night — matching the Inner Classic, Dai Rites, and Song masters. Measured against the 360-degree celestial circuit: going 200 li south lowers the north pole 1°; going 200 li north raises it 1°. Along the equator, 200 li east or west shifts lunar eclipse timing by 1°. Movement along parallels north and south of the equator, though distances vary by latitude, matches the armillary model. Earth's full circumference is 360°, 72,000 li in every direction; by the ancient 8-cun foot that is 90,000 li around; with pi as 3, diameter 30,000 li; matching the old doctrine of 30,000 li to the center. Earth is therefore certainly a sphere. East-west distance per degree of latitude varies; the key figures follow.
16
西
East-west distance per degree of latitude from the equator: at 1° latitude, 199 li 340 paces; at 5°, 199 li 80 paces; at 10°, 196 li 340 paces;
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at 15°, 193 li 60 paces; at 20°, 187 li 320 paces; at 25°, 181 li 80 paces; at 30°, 173 li 60 paces;
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at 35°, 163 li 280 paces; at 40°, 153 li 80 paces; at 45° latitude, 141 li 120 paces; at 50°, 128 li 200 paces;
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at 55°, 114 li 240 paces; at 60°, 99 li 340 paces; at 65°, 84 li 200 paces; at 70°, 68 li 140 paces;
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at 75°, 51 li 240 paces; at 80°, 34 li 160 paces; at 85°, 17 li 80 paces; at 89°, 3 li 160 paces.
21
西 西輿
Li-cha ("li difference") names the shift in zenith and horizon when observers stand at different longitudes and latitudes; it matters greatly for what one sees overhead. Star visibility, day length, planetary risings, seasonal timing, and eclipse depth and order all vary with place. Once the correction is known, local variation is predictable and need not be mistaken for errant heavens. Earlier manuals listed provincial polar heights and longitudinal offsets from map distances — often inaccurate. Here Kangxi surveys, Qianlong additions, Xinjiang, and Jinchuan observations yield revised polar altitudes and longitudinal offsets.
22
西
North polar altitude: Beijing 39°55'; Mukden 41°51'; Shanxi 37°53'30";
23
西
Korea 37°39'15"; Shandong 36°45'24"; Henan 34°52'26"; Shaanxi 34°16';
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Jiangnan 32°04'; Sichuan 30°41'; Huguang 30°34'48"; Zhejiang 30°18'20";
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西 西
Jiangxi 28°37'12"; Guizhou 26°30'20"; Fujian 26°02'24"; Guangxi 25°13'07";
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Yunnan 25°06'; Guangdong 23°10'; Bulung Ke'ergasutai 49°28'; Ege Selengge 49°27';
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Sangjin Dalai Lake 49°12'; Kent Mountain 48°33'; Kerulen River Balcheng 48°05'30"; Tula River Khan Mountain 47°57'10";
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Khalkha River Keleheshuo 47°34'30"; Dorbet 47°15'; Orkhon River Erdeni Zhao 46°58'15"; Kongge Zhabu Hankhan River 46°42';
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Jasak 46°30'; Tui River 46°29'20"; Horqin 46°17'; Gorlos 45°30';
30
Aru Horqin 45°30'; Wengji River 45°30'; Saksak Tugurik 45°23'45"; Ujumchin 44°45';
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Haoqit 44°06'; Gurban Saikhan 43°48'; Bairin 43°36'; Jalut 43°30';
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Abahanaer 43°23'; Abaga 43°23'; Naiman 43°15'; Keshiketeng 43°00';
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Sunid 43°00'; Hami 42°53'; Wengniut 42°30'; Aohan 42°15';
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Khalkha 41°44'; Four-Banner Tribe 41°41'; Kharchin 41°30'; Maominggan 41°15';
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Urad 40°52'; Guihuacheng 40°49'; Tumed 40°49'; Ordos 39°30';
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Alashan Mountain 38°30'. Above: Kangxi-era surveys. Yaksa 51°48'; Heilongjiang 50°01';
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Sanxing 47°20'; Bodune 45°15'; Jilin 43°47'; Gansu 36°08';
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Anhui 30°37'; Hunan 28°13'; Annam 22°16'; Altan Nur Uryankhai 53°30';
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Khan Mountain Hatun River 51°10'; Tangnu Mountain Uryankhai 50°40'; Ulan Gom Dorbet 49°20'; Irtysh River 48°35';
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Zaisan Nur 48°35'; Altai Mountain Uryankhai 48°30'; Alehui Mountain 48°20'; Kobdo 48°02';
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Uliastai 47°48'; Kazakh 47°30'; Tarbagatai 47°00'; Bulegan River Torghut 47°00';
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Balkhash Nur 47°00'; Ulungu River 46°40'; Hesele Bas Nur 46°40'; Khoboksar Torghut 46°40';
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Zakhchin 46°30'; Jair Torghut 46°10'; Khobdo: 45° latitude; the Chui River: 44°50′ latitude;
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Bortala: 44°50′ latitude; Badakh: 44°43′ latitude; Jing River Torghut: 44°35′ latitude; Körkö Üüs Torghut: 44°30′ latitude;
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Anji Hai: 44°13′ latitude; Kash: 44°8′ latitude; Ili: 43°56′ latitude; the Talas River: 43°50′ latitude;
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Mulei: 43°45′ latitude; Jimsar: 43°40′ latitude; Barkol: 43°39′ latitude; Konggis: 43°33′ latitude;
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Urumqi: 43°27′ latitude; Zhuledusi: 43°17′ latitude; Turfan: 43°4′ latitude; Tashkent: 43°3′ latitude;
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Khoshuud: 43° latitude; Nalin Mountain: 43° latitude; Temurtu Nor: 42°50′ latitude; Lukchin: 42°48′ latitude;
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Ushak-tarla: 42°16′ latitude; Karashahr: 42°7′ latitude; Korla: 41°46′ latitude; Burgu: 41°44′ latitude;
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Sayram: 41°41′ latitude; Namangan: 41°38′ latitude; Kucha: 41°37′ latitude; Burut: 41°28′ latitude;
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Andijan: 41°28′ latitude; Kokand: 41°23′ latitude; Aksu: 41°9′ latitude; Ush: 41°6′ latitude;
52
Osh: 40°19′ latitude; Kashgar: 39°25′ latitude; Barchuk: 39°15′ latitude; Yengisar: 38°47′ latitude;
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Yarkand: 38°19′ latitude; Wakhan: 38° latitude; Seriqkul: 37°48′ latitude; Qachar: 37°11′ latitude;
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Karakash: 37°10′ latitude; Keriya: 37° latitude; Khotan: 37° latitude; Iliq: 37° latitude;
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Bolor: 37° latitude; Sanzhu: 36°58′ latitude; Yulong Kash: 36°52′ latitude; Eloshan: 36°49′ latitude;
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Shignan: 36°47′ latitude; Badakhshan: 36°23′ latitude; Sanzagu: 32°1′ latitude; Dangba: 31°56′ latitude;
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Chosjab: 31°53′ latitude; Jinchuan Lewuwei: 31°34′ latitude; Jinchuan Galai: 31°19′ latitude; Wasi: 31°17′ latitude;
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Gebusizan: 31°8′ latitude; Bulakdi: 31°4′ latitude; Lesser Jinchuan Meinuo: 31° latitude; Bawang: 30°58′ latitude;
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Wokesi: 30°56′ latitude; Mingzheng: 30°28′ latitude; Muping: 30°25′ latitude; Above: Qianlong-era additions to the Shixian Calendar.
60
西
East-west longitudinal offsets: Shengjing, 7°15′ east of the capital meridian; Zhejiang: 3°41′24″ E of the capital meridian; Fujian: 2°59′ E of the capital meridian;
61
西西 西
Jiangnan: 2°18′ E of the capital meridian; Shandong: 2°15′ E of the capital meridian; Jiangxi: 37′ W of the capital meridian; Henan: 1°56′ W of the capital meridian;
62
西 西 西西 西西
Huguang: 2°17′ W of the capital meridian; Guangdong: 3°33′15″ W of the capital meridian; Shanxi: 3°57′42″ W of the capital meridian; Guangxi: 6°14′40″ W of the capital meridian;
63
西西 西 西 西
Shaanxi: 7°33′40″ W of the capital meridian; Guizhou: 9°52′40″ W of the capital meridian; Sichuan: 12°16′ W of the capital meridian; Yunnan: 13°37′ W of the capital meridian;
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Korea: 10°30′ E of the capital meridian; Gorlos: 8°10′ E of the capital meridian; Jalaid: 7°45′ E of the capital meridian; Dorbet: 6°10′ E of the capital meridian;
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Jalut: 5° E of the capital meridian; Naiman: 5° E of the capital meridian; Horqin: 4°30′ E of the capital meridian; Aohan: 4° E of the capital meridian;
66
祿
Alu Horqin: 3°50′ E of the capital meridian; Khalkha River Keleheshao: 2°46′ E of the capital meridian; Bairin: 2°14′ E of the capital meridian; Kharachin: 2° E of the capital meridian;
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Ungniut: 2° E of the capital meridian; Ujimqin: 1°10′ E of the capital meridian; Keshiketeng: 1°10′ E of the capital meridian; Haoqit: 30′ E of the capital meridian;
68
西 西
Abag Hanar: 28′ E of the capital meridian; Abagai: 28′ E of the capital meridian; Sunid: 1°28′ W of the capital meridian; Kerulen River Baras City: 2°52′ W of the capital meridian;
69
西 西 西 西
Four Banners: 4°22′ W of the capital meridian; Guihua City: 4°48′ W of the capital meridian; Tumed: 4°48′ W of the capital meridian; Khalkha: 5°55′ W of the capital meridian;
70
西 西 西 西
Maominggan: 6°9′ W of the capital meridian; Urad: 6°30′ W of the capital meridian; Kentai Mountain: 7°3′ W of the capital meridian; Ordos: 8° W of the capital meridian;
71
西 西 西 西
Tula River Hanshan: 9°12′ W of the capital meridian; Wengji River: 11° W of the capital meridian; Gurban Saikhan: 11° W of the capital meridian; Burung Burga Sutai: 11°22′ W of the capital meridian;
72
西 西 西 西
Alashan Mountain: 12° W of the capital meridian; Egeselingge: 12°25′ W of the capital meridian; Orkhon River Erdene Zhao: 13°5′ W of the capital meridian; the Tui River: 15°15′ W of the capital meridian;
73
西 西 西 西
Sangjin Dalai Lake: 16°20′ W of the capital meridian; Saksatu Gurik: 19°30′ W of the capital meridian; Kongge Yizhabu Han River: 20°12′ W of the capital meridian; Hami City: 22°32′ W of the capital meridian.
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Above: Kangxi-era measured values. Sanxing: 13°20′ E of the capital meridian; Amur: 10°58′ E; Jilin: 10°27′ E of the capital meridian;
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西 西
Boduna: 8°37′ E of the capital meridian; Anhui: 34′ E of the capital meridian; Albazin: 17′ W of the capital meridian; Hunan: 3°42′ W of the capital meridian;
76
西 西 西 西
Annam: 10° W of the capital meridian; Gansu: 12°36′ W of the capital meridian; Uliastai City: 22°40′ W of the capital meridian; Barkol: 23° W of the capital meridian;
77
西 西 西 西
Zhahacin: 23°10′ W of the capital meridian; Tannu Uriankhai: 24°20′ W of the capital meridian; Khobdo: 24°26′ W of the capital meridian; Badakh: 25° W of the capital meridian;
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西 西 西 西
Mulei: 25°36′ W of the capital meridian; Ulan Gom Dorbet: 25°40′ W of the capital meridian; Lukchin: 26°11′ W of the capital meridian; Turfan: 26°45′ W of the capital meridian;
79
西 西 西 西
Jimsar: 26°52′ W of the capital meridian; Kobdo City: 27°20′ W of the capital meridian; Urumqi: 27°56′ W of the capital meridian; Bulegan River Torghut: 28°10′ W of the capital meridian;
80
西 西 西 西
Ushak-tarla: 28°26′ W of the capital meridian; Altai Uriankhai: 28°35′ W of the capital meridian; Altan Nor Uriankhai: 28°40′ W of the capital meridian; Hanshan Hatun River: 29° W of the capital meridian;
81
西 西 西 西
the Ulungu River: 29°15′ W of the capital meridian; Hesele Bas Nor: 29°15′ W of the capital meridian; Karashahr: 20°17′ W of the capital meridian; Korla: 29°56′ W of the capital meridian;
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西 西 西 西
Tarbagatai: 30° W of the capital meridian; Zhuledusi: 30°50′ W of the capital meridian; Anji Hai: 30°54′ W of the capital meridian; Khoshuud: 31° W of the capital meridian;
83
西 西 西 西
Hoboksar Torghut: 31°15′ W of the capital meridian; Körkö Üüs Torghut: 31°56′ W of the capital meridian; Konggis: 32° W of the capital meridian; Burgu: 32°7′ W of the capital meridian;
84
西 西 西 西
the Irtysh River: 32°25′ W of the capital meridian; Zaisan Nor: 32°25′ W of the capital meridian; Kash: 33° W of the capital meridian; Zhail Torghut: 33° W of the capital meridian;
85
西 西 西 西
Bortala: 33°30′ W of the capital meridian; Jing River Torghut: 33°30′ W of the capital meridian; Kucha: 33°32′ W of the capital meridian; Keriya: 33°33′ W of the capital meridian;
86
西 西 西 西
Ili: 34°20′ W of the capital meridian; Sayram: 34°40′ W of the capital meridian; the Kazakhs: 34°50′ W of the capital meridian; Yulong Kash: 35°37′ W of the capital meridian;
87
西 西 西 西
Khotan: 35°52′ W of the capital meridian; Iliq: 35°52′ W of the capital meridian; Karakash: 36°14′ W of the capital meridian; Alehui Mountain: 36°50′ W of the capital meridian;
88
西 西 西 西
Aksu: 37°15′ W of the capital meridian; Sanzhu: 37°47′ W of the capital meridian; Balkhash Nor: 38°10′ W of the capital meridian; Ush: 38°27′ W of the capital meridian;
89
西 西 西 西
Temurtu Nor: 39°20′ W of the capital meridian; Barchuk: 39°35′ W of the capital meridian; Yarkand: 40°10′ W of the capital meridian; Yengisar: 41°50′ W of the capital meridian;
90
西 西 西 西
the Chui River: 42° W of the capital meridian; Kashgar: 42°25′ W of the capital meridian; Seriqkul: 42°24′ W of the capital meridian; Qachar: 42°32′ W of the capital meridian;
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西 西 西 西
Osh: 42°50′ W of the capital meridian; Bolor: 43°38′ W of the capital meridian; Badakhshan: 43°50′ W of the capital meridian; the Talas River: 44° W of the capital meridian;
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西 西 西 西
Burut: 44°35′ W of the capital meridian; Andijan: 44°35′ W of the capital meridian; Shignan: 44°46′ W of the capital meridian; Nalin Mountain: 45° W of the capital meridian;
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西 西 西 西
Wakhan: 45°9′ W of the capital meridian; Eloshan: 45°26′ W of the capital meridian; Namangan: 45°40′ W of the capital meridian; Kokand: 45°56′ W of the capital meridian;
94
西 西 西 西
Tashkent lies forty-seven degrees forty-three minutes west of the capital; Wasi lies twelve degrees fifty-eight minutes west of the capital; Muping lies thirteen degrees thirty-seven minutes west of the capital; Wakhan lies thirteen degrees fifty-one minutes west of the capital;
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西 西 西 西
Sanzagou lies thirteen degrees fifty-six minutes west of the capital; Lesser Jinchuan at Meinuo lies fourteen degrees seven minutes west of the capital; Bulake lies fourteen degrees twenty-two minutes west of the capital; Jinchuan at Galaiyi lies fourteen degrees twenty-nine minutes west of the capital;
96
西 西 西 西
Dangba lies fourteen degrees twenty-nine minutes west of the capital; Jinchuan at Lewuwei lies fourteen degrees thirty-four minutes west of the capital; Bawang lies fourteen degrees thirty-four minutes west of the capital; Chosjiabu lies fourteen degrees forty-four minutes west of the capital;
97
西 西
Mingzheng lies fourteen degrees forty-nine minutes west of the capital; Geshizhaizan lies fourteen degrees fifty-one minutes west of the capital.
98
The above were additions of the Qianlong Board of Astronomy.
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