The gradual acceptance of the Copernican theory of the universe

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NEW YORK 1917
Copyright 1917 by Dorothy Stimson
Trade Selling Agents The Baker & Taylor Co., 354 Fourth Ave., New York

The Systems of the World in 1651 According to Father Riccioli
(Reduced facsimile of the frontispiece in Riccioli: Almagestum Novum . Bologna, 1651.)
Astrea, goddess of the heaven, wearing angel's wings and gleaming everywhere with stars, stands at the right; on the left is Argus of the hundred eyes, not tense, but indicating by the position of the telescope at his knee rather than at the eyes in his head, that while observing the work of God's hand, he appears at the same time to be worshipping as in genuflexion. (Riccioli: Alm. Nov. , Præfatio , xvii). He points to the cherubs in the heavens who hold the planets, each with its zodiacal sign: above him at the top is Mars, then Mercury in its crescent form, the Sun, and Venus also in the crescent phase; on the opposite side are Saturn in its tripartite form (the ring explanation was yet to be given), the sphere of Jupiter encircled by its four satellites, the crescent Moon, its imperfections clearly shown, and a comet. Thus Father Riccioli summarized the astronomical knowledge of his day. The scrolls quote Psalms 19:2, Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night showeth knowledge.
At the top is the Hebrew Yah-Veh , and the hand of God is stretched forth in reference to the verse in the Book of Wisdom (10:20): But thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number and weight.


THIS study does not belong in the field of astronomy, but in that of the history of thought; for it is an endeavor to trace the changes in people's beliefs and conceptions in regard to the universe as these were wrought by the dissolution of superstition resulting from the scientific and rationalist movements. The opening chapter is intended to do no more than to review briefly the astronomical theories up to the age of Copernicus, in order to provide a background for the better comprehension of the work of Copernicus and its effects.