Andreas Cellarius — Harmonia Macrocosmica (1660)

PLANISPHERE

Or

OF THE ENTIRE WORLD,

TYCHONIC

ON A PLANE

BRAHEAN,

Structure

ACCORDING TO THE HYPOTHESIS

OF BRAHE DELINEATED

IN.

A hand-colored double-page engraved plate from a 17th-century celestial atlas, depicting the Tychonic system of the universe. The central diagram consists of a series of concentric and overlapping circular orbits on a background of radiating golden lines. At the absolute center is the Earth (Terra), orbited by the Moon (Luna). The Sun (Sol) also orbits the Earth. In this geo-heliocentric model, the five known planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—revolve around the Sun as it moves around the Earth. The orbits of Mercury and Venus are shown as small circles around the Sun, while Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn follow larger paths (labeled Circle of Mars, Circle of Jupiter, and Circle of Saturn) that encompass the Earth-Sun system. The entire planetary system is enclosed within a broad ring representing the Zodiac, decorated with the names and symbols of the twelve constellations. The corners of the plate are elaborately decorated. At the top, two pink curtains or banners are held up by putti, containing the title of the map. In the bottom corners, groups of figures are depicted in a landscape. On the left, men in 17th-century attire study a large globe. On the right, Tycho Brahe (identifiable by his distinctive clothing and the Order of the Elephant) points toward a celestial globe, surrounded by assistants and astronomical instruments, including a quadrant and dividers. The background features classical and fortified architecture.

The following names appear in the outer ring of the Zodiac, listed clockwise from the top.

• SAGITTARIUS ♐︎
• CAPRICORN ♑︎
• AQUARIUS ♒︎
• PISCES ♓︎
• ARIES ♈︎
• TAURUS ♉︎
• GEMINI ♊︎
• CANCER ♋︎
• LEO ♌︎
• VIRGO ♍︎
• LIBRA ♎︎
• SCORPIO ♏︎

Labels for planetary bodies and orbits within the diagram.

• SATURN ♄
• CIRCLE OF SATURN
• JUPITER ♃
• CIRCLE OF JUPITER
• MARS ♂
• CIRCLE OF MARS
• SUN ☉
• VENUS ♀
• MERCURY ☿
• MOON ☾
• EARTH ⊕