To the

Illustrious, High-born Prince and Lord,

JOHANN FRIEDRICH,

Duke of Württemberg and Teck, Count of Mömpelgard, Lord of Heidenheim: My gracious Prince and Lord.

Illustrious, High-born, Gracious Prince and Lord, your Princely Grace has my humble, poor service always at your command. Unfortunately, it is not the least of the misfortunes—stemming partly from the long-lasting unrest in Austria Kepler refers here to the early stages of the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), which caused significant disruption to his work and safety in Linz., and partly from my departure necessitated by need and my long absence from my household effects original: "Supellectilibus"; this refers to his physical property, instruments, and furniture and library left behind in Linz—that has befallen me and mine: namely, that my ephemeris original: "Ephemeris"; an astronomical table providing the predicted positions of celestial bodies calculated for the current year 1621 has remained unprinted until today (notwithstanding that I brought the numerical types original: "typos numericos"; likely referring to the mathematical proofs or the prepared printing blocks for the tables with me on the water as far as Ingolstadt in good hope).

Since inquiries are being made here and there in German and other lands for the aforementioned ephemeris—especially concerning the upcoming great solar eclipse and how it is predicted through my calculation original: "calculum"—I have wished to summarily original: "Summariter" compose the little that I recorded regarding this and other solar eclipses during the time of my journey (mostly in Stuttgart, alongside my private business) or calculated from the tables original: "Tabulis"; likely the Rudolphine Tables, his lifelong project which remained unfinished at this time I carried with me, and to bring it into public print for the service of lovers of the arts. Which I hereby dedicate and ascribe to Your Princely Grace in humble obedience: especially because the place itself, being Your Princely Grace's princely court and residence Stuttgart was the seat of the Duke of Württemberg. Kepler had traveled there to defend his mother, Katharina Kepler, in her famous witchcraft trial., restrained me from seeking a dedication elsewhere; not to mention other higher reasons at this time, as the little work itself is neither weighty nor large.

Herewith I obediently commend myself, together with the precious, worthy art of astronomy original: "Astronomia", to Your Princely Grace's usual territorial-princely favors and graces. Dated Ulm, April $\frac{1}{11}$, in the year 1621. The fraction 1/11 refers to the different dates in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.