The main thrust of this chapter is Kepler exploring the ghosts in the shell. The topic is centered on these two diagrams:
Continue reading “Astronomia Nova – Chapter 2”
Astronomia Nova – Chapter 1
Kepler begins the chapter by saying:
The testimony of the ages confirms that the motions of the planets are orbicular. Reason, having borrowed from experience, immediately presumes this: That their gyrations are perfect circles.
Astronomia Nova – Introduction
Kepler’s introduction to Astronomia Nova is somewhat of a lengthy ramble: 20 pages skipping from topic to topic and back again. In addition, he lays out somewhat of a preview of the structure of the book itself. But since we’ll be digesting that chapter by chapter anyway, I won’t discuss most of it and will instead sift through for the important parts. In addition, my summation won’t strictly follow the format Kepler does as I will try to group ideas on a similar topic.
The first important topic Kepler hits on is the
schools of thought among astronomers, one distinguished by its chief, Ptolemy… and the other attributed to more recent proponents [Copernicus], although it is the most ancient.