Rudolphine Tables and instructive examples for computing planetary positions. For most stars these tables were accurate to within one arc minute, and included corrective factors for atmospheric refraction. The tables were sufficiently accurate to predict a transit of Mercury observed by Pierre Gassendi in 1631 and a transit of Venus observed by Jeremiah Horrox in 1639. Rudolphine Tables The Rudolphine Tables () consist of a star catalogue and planetary tables published by Johannes Kepler in 1627, using some observational data collected by Tycho Brahe (1546–1601). The tables are named as "Rudolphine" in memory of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. Star tables had
Virtual Planetary Laboratory explore the distribution of habitable worlds in the universe. The VPL team studies the effects of galactic, stellar, and planetary environments on planetary habitability. Task D incorporates VPL researchers from diverse and interdisciplinary fields who use laboratory work combined with chemical and climate models to study the impact of life on its environment. In addition, the interactions between the biosphere, planet, and host star are explored to determine how they can influence detectable biosignatures. In the final task, the VPL scientists observe our Solar System and extrasolar planets. The goal of this task is to develop astronomical and remote-sensing retrieval