At the center, the astronomer Guido Bonatus is seated upon an elaborate architectural throne. He is depicted as a bearded man wearing a crown and voluminous, patterned academic or royal robes, signifying his "prince-like" status in the field of stars. Above his head hangs a scroll inscribed "Guido Bonatus." He is framed by an arching canopy featuring the twelve signs of the zodiac and numerous stars.

To the viewer's left stands a female personification of Astronomy. She holds an open book displaying celestial diagrams and a banner that curls around her reading "Astronomy" original Latin: "Astronomia".

To the viewer's right stands another female figure, representing the muse Urania, the traditional patron of astronomy in Greek mythology. She holds a celestial or armillary sphere in her raised hand. Two scrolls accompany her: one reads "The Muse Urania" original Latin: "Urania musa" and the other "celestial" original Latin: "celeste".

The foreground shows a stylized ground with small plants and flowers, contrasting the earthly realm with the celestial study above.