Panorama historique de l’étude de la réfraction astronomique : une histoire méconnue entre optique, mathématiques et géodésie

From Greek antiquity to the era of computer science, astronomical refraction has raised questions about real angular position celestial bodies as seen from Earth surface, structure its atmosphere, and navigation. After introducing embryonic ideas first measurements, article presents early founders a mathematically structured study: Cassini, Newton, Taylor—the last two inventing appropriate mathematical tools. Then 18th century geodesists (Bouguer, Lacaille, etc.) enrich corpus observations be understood, followed by “classics”—Simpson, Bradley, Kramp, Laplace. The progress in metrology allows precise studies air refractive index new theoretical efforts with Biot’s omnipresence. This gain accuracy requires calculations involving more sophisticated atmospheric models, Radau Ivory, among others, will do. Ivory pointing out divergence numerical series being used, Kummer Hausdorff find way. Numerical work on computers is eventually making useless all this virtuosity, although present keeps relying advances.