Photometric Researches

"Photometric Researches" was a significant work by Charles Sanders Peirce, published in 1878. This research, conducted while he was associated with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, focused on astronomical photometry, specifically the precise determination of the shape of the Milky Way Galaxy. Photometry itself is the measurement of the brightness of celestial objects, which can reveal information about their structure, temperature, and distance. Peirce's work contributed to the development of more accurate methods for measuring stellar brightness, moving beyond subjective visual comparisons to more objective techniques. His father, Benjamin Peirce, was also a prominent mathematician and astronomer, known for his work on celestial mechanics and his role at Harvard University.123