An ornamental woodcut headpiece features a central figure, possibly a deity or a personification of science, flanked by scrolling floral patterns. Two smaller figures are positioned at the outer edges of the design.

AN INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY

According to the Hypotheses of both the Ancients and of

COPERNICUS AND TYCHO BRAHE

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER

The observations of those things that appear among the stars (which are therefore called "phenomena") are the true foundations of all Astronomy, provided that these observations are performed and compared.

Gassendi’s Observations.

What Plato called Astronomy, most of the other Ancients also called Astrology. However, from the time the Chaldeans The Chaldeans were inhabitants of Babylonia, famous in antiquity for their expertise in mathematics and star-gazing. introduced their nonsense into this science, the name "Astrology" has generally been assigned to the casting of horoscopes original: "Genethliacæ" (which is also commonly called Judicial Astrology). "Astronomy" is the name now given to the study that focuses on contemplating and measuring the motion, distance, order, size, light, and other similar properties of the stars.

Its origin came from wonder; specifically, when humans observed the stars' splendor, variety, number, and vastness, and also noted in them a motion so constant, so regular, and so ceaselessly bringing about the changes of day and night, summer and winter.

The dignity of its subject matter highly recommends it. This subject is nothing other than the most vast and noble region of the entire world: the Heavens. The wiser philosophers say that humans possess eyes and an upright posture original: "erectos vultus" specifically so that they may contemplate this realm.

The Babylonians claim its invention and antiquity because of their founder Belus; the Egyptians because of Mercury The Egyptian god Thoth was often identified with the Roman Mercury as a bringer of knowledge.; the Moors because of Atlas and Hercules; the Greeks because of Jupiter, Orpheus, and Atreus; and the Scythians because of Prometheus.

The observations that survive are those of the most ancient Babylonians. Indeed, Ptolemy records several eclipses observed by them a little more than seven hundred years before Christ. What they claim regarding older records is either not proven by any monument or tastes of fable.

A geocentric cosmological diagram shows the structure of the universe according to traditional medieval and Renaissance thought. The outermost square frame represents the "Unmoving Empyrean Heaven." Inside are concentric circles representing the celestial spheres. These include the First Mover, two Crystalline spheres, and the Firmament or Fixed Stars, which is decorated with star symbols. The inner spheres represent the orbits of the seven classical planets: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. A small globe of the Earth with geographical details sits at the center of the system.

Astronomy, Astrology, Plato, Chaldeans, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Ptolemy, Horoscopes, Empyrean Heaven, First Mover, Firmament, Stars, Eclipses