THE SUN

changes its position in space, therefore
it cannot be regarded as being
"in a condition of rest."

Si concedimus, eos, qui corpora in mundi
spatio moveri eademque non moveri
posse dicunt, insulsa loqui, praesumere
non licet hominem astronomum talem
sententiam elocuturum utque eam demonstraret
operam daturum esse.

By
August Tischner.

Leipzig,
Gustav Fock.
1883.

Dedicated
to all friends of Rational Astronomy.

Nicolaus Copernicus.
Terrae motor, solis stator.

The system of Copernicus is the only possible system; it is the eternal base of all astronomical progress, with this system the science of Astronomy stands and falls, and without it we must give up all explication as well as every scientifically founded predication. Hence it is clear that an astronomer of the present day cannot enter upon any other system, even by way of trial.

Dr. J. H. Mädler. Popul. Astr. 1861.
p.p. 48. 54. 62.

An army of philosophers will not suffice to change the nature of an error and to convert it into truth. Ebn-Roshd (Averrhoës), Arabian philosopher of the XII^th century.

Astronomical science, at the present day insists upon the system of Copernicus, which, as is well known, is based upon the theory of a fixed sun, and remains convinced of the incontrovertible truth and importance of this system, even after it has become an incontestable fact, that the sun changes its position; endeavouring to explain away this discrepancy by the sophism, that the sun may be considered as in a condition of rest. But the smallest movement of the sun overthrows the entire fabric of Copernicus. Unless we take into account the observations, made for the last 3000 years, respecting the movement of the sun in space, it is impossible to comprehend the solar system and its movements. Theory must take notice of the phenomena of the sun's own movement and dare not cloak it under imaginary causes; for so long as the motion of the sun is ignored, it is impossible to know thoroughly the motion of the earth which follows it, and if the motion of the earth be not known, it is also impossible to know the motion of the other heavenly bodies, belonging to the solar system, as seen from the earth. In a word, the astronomical theory, as it is now generally accepted and believed to be the only and doubtless true, is wholly untenable, requiring a total and essential reformation; astronomical authors cling to J. H. Mädler's assertion, that every body will understand the impossibility for an astronomer of our time to enter upon any other system even by way of trial.

If this theory be converted into a dogma, stagnation must commence and all progress becomes impossible. In the history of science and its advance, we find that there have been at all times new theories propounded, which had often to be changed later on, or even set aside by others diametrically opposite. The principal