Horace Heffner wrote: > On Oct 11, 2009, at 4:38 PM, Mauro Lacy wrote: > > >> Mauro Lacy wrote: >> >>> ... >>> As I don't read latin, here's fortunately an english version >>> http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/year-text-Copernicus.html >>> >>> I'll post the excerpt when/if I find it. >>> >>> >> "The third motion in inclination is consequently required. This >> also is >> a yearly revolution, but it occurs in the reverse order of the signs, >> that is, in the direction opposite to that of the motion of the >> center. >> These two motions are opposite in direction and nearly equal in >> period. >> The result is that the earth’s axis and equator, the largest of the >> parallels of latitude on it, face almost the same portion of the >> heavens, just as if they remained motionless. Meanwhile the sun >> seems to >> move through the obliquity of the ecliptic with the motion of the >> earth’s center, as though this were the center of the universe. Only >> remember that, in relation to the sphere of the fixed stars, the >> distance between the sun and the earth vanishes from our sight >> forthwith." >> > > To me this just means: the sun appears to move on the ecliptic > because the earth moves around the sun in the plane of the ecliptic, > and the stars do not appear to move because the distance to the sun > is miniscule in comparison to the distance to the stars. >
That's only the last part of it. I recommend you to read it again. It is also convenient to read the previous passages also. Best regards, Mauro
