On the Sun and Light

Certain greater but fixed distances are traversed from the Sun and toward the Sun. Indeed, Venus is said to depart no further than 49 degrees, while Mercury departs 28 degrees. The Moon changes its shape and nature in every aspect The "aspect" refers to the angular relationship between two celestial bodies of the Sun. And like a second Sun, passing through four ages, it represents the four seasons of the year. Whenever it is joined with the Sun, the nature of the coming month is declared by that very degree of conjunction and the configuration of the sky. Furthermore, all the planets, as soon as they touch the heart of the Sun original: "cor Solis" — a technical term for a planet being in the exact same degree as the Sun, also known as Cazimi, dominate all others at that time, however brief it may be. Otherwise, when approaching the Sun, they are meanwhile vacant from their usual office. Indeed, when meeting with the Sun, Saturn is judged to set aside its former rigidity, and Mars likewise its accustomed ferocity.

The superior planets The planets further from the Sun than Earth: Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn ascend as the Sun approaches them. However, as it departs, they conversely descend. When joined to the Sun, they are at the highest point of their epicycle epicycle: a small circle the center of which moves around the circumference of a larger one, used to explain planetary orbits; when opposite, they are at the lowest. In quadrature An angle of 90 degrees between two celestial bodies, they are at a middle altitude. The Moon, in both cases, exists at its peak in the deferent The main circular path. In quadrature it descends. Venus and Mercury, if they are joined to the Sun while moving forward, are at their highest; if moving backward retrograde motion, they are at their lowest. Nor is it permitted for the planets to complete the circuit of their epicycle before they have revisited the Sun, as if their lord, in conjunction. In these things we have said, the superior planets—when they change their step into the trine aspect An angle of 120 degrees in the sight of the Sun—truly seem to revere the royal gaze of the Sun.