Andreas Cellarius — Harmonia Macrocosmica (1660)

THEORY OF THE SUN

THROUGH ECCENTRIC

AND EPICYCLE.

A hand-colored 17th-century astronomical plate detailing solar theory via eccentric and epicyclic models. The central image is a large, intricate circular diagram featuring multiple rings, radial lines, and inscribed Latin terminology. Four cherubic putti frame the corners; the top two hold banners with text, while the bottom two stand beside smaller inset diagrams. The outer ring displays the twelve signs of the zodiac (Cancer, Gemini, Taurus, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Libra, Virgo, Leo) along with their symbols and names. An inner ring identifies the "ZODIAC OR SIGN-BEARER AND ECLIPTIC." The diagram maps various paths and solar measurements, including apogee, perigee, and mean versus apparent motion. The bottom inset diagrams further explain the mathematical hypotheses of solar movement.

Outer Ring (Zodiac Signs):
CANCER ♋︎
GEMINI ♊︎
TAURUS ♉︎
ARIES ♈︎
PISCES ♓︎
AQUARIUS ♒︎
CAPRICORN ♑︎
SAGITTARIUS ♐︎
SCORPIO ♏︎
LIBRA ♎︎
VIRGO ♍︎
LEO ♌︎

Inner Ring Inscription:
Z O D I A C O R S I G N - B E A R E R A N D E C L I P T I C

Major Labels in Large Letters (within the rings):

Central Axis Labels:

• Vertical: SOLSTITIAL COLURE The circle passing through the solstitial points and the poles of the equator.
• Horizontal (Left): DIAMETER OF THE ECCENTRIC
• Horizontal (Right): SUN
• Horizontal (Main Band): EQUINOCTIAL OR EQUINOCTIAL COLURE

Inscribed Text and Data:

• APOGEE AND SUMMIT OF THE SUN
• MAXIMUM DISTANCE OF THE SUN
• WHERE THE SUN REMAINS 186 DAYS AND 9 HOURS
• LINE OF MEAN MOTION
• LINE OF TRUE MOTION
• LINE OF APPARENT MOTION
• LINE OF MEAN MOTION ANTECEDENT
• LINE OF MEAN MOTION SUBSEQUENT
• LINE OF APPARENT OR TRUE MOTION SEMIDIAMETER
• PROSTHAPHAERESIS Correction used in astronomy to calculate the true position of a planet from its mean position.
• PERIGEE OF THE SUN AND MINIMUM DISTANCE
• MINIMUM DISTANCE OF THE SUN
• WHERE THE SUN REMAINS 178 DAYS.
• EARTH
• SUN

Bottom Left Inset Diagram:

• ZODIAC OR ECLIPTIC
• True position of the Sun
• Mean position of the Sun
• Earth Center
• Center of the eccentric

Bottom Right Inset Diagram:

• True position of the Sun
• Mean position of the Sun
• Earth
• Center