127115That the Moon may be a World.
nor can he know much in Aſtronomy, who
underſtands not the Paralax, which is a Foun-
dation of that Science; and I am ſure that he is
a timerous Man, who dares not believe the
frequent experience of his Senſes, or truſt to a
Demonſtration.
underſtands not the Paralax, which is a Foun-
dation of that Science; and I am ſure that he is
a timerous Man, who dares not believe the
frequent experience of his Senſes, or truſt to a
Demonſtration.
True indeed, I grant ’tis poſſible, that the
Eye, the Medium, and the diſtance may all
deceive the Beholder; but I would have him
ſhew which of all theſe was likely to cauſe an
Errour in this Obſervation? Meerly to ſay they
might be deceiv’d, is no ſufficient Anſwer;
for by this I may confute the poſitions of all
Aſtronomers, and affirm the Stars are hard by
us, becauſe ’tis poſſible they may be deceiv’d
in their Obſerving diſtance. But I forbear any
further reply; my opinion is of that Treatiſe,
that either it was ſet forth purpoſely to tempt
a Confutation, that he might ſee the Opinion
of Galilæus confirm’d by others, or elſe it was
invented with as much haſt and negligence as
it was Printed, there being in it, almoſt as ma-
ny Faults as Lines.
Eye, the Medium, and the diſtance may all
deceive the Beholder; but I would have him
ſhew which of all theſe was likely to cauſe an
Errour in this Obſervation? Meerly to ſay they
might be deceiv’d, is no ſufficient Anſwer;
for by this I may confute the poſitions of all
Aſtronomers, and affirm the Stars are hard by
us, becauſe ’tis poſſible they may be deceiv’d
in their Obſerving diſtance. But I forbear any
further reply; my opinion is of that Treatiſe,
that either it was ſet forth purpoſely to tempt
a Confutation, that he might ſee the Opinion
of Galilæus confirm’d by others, or elſe it was
invented with as much haſt and negligence as
it was Printed, there being in it, almoſt as ma-
ny Faults as Lines.
Others think, that theſe are not any new
Comets, but ſome ancient Stars that were there
before, which now ſhine with that unuſual
Brightneſs, by reaſon of the interpoſition of
ſuch Vapours, which do multiply their Light;
and ſo the Alteration will be here only, and
not in the Heavens. Thus Ariſtotle thought
the appearance of the milky way was produ-
ced: For he held, that there were many lit-
tle Stars, which by their Influence did conſtant-
ly attract ſuch a Vapour towards that place of
Heaven, ſo that it always appeared white.
Comets, but ſome ancient Stars that were there
before, which now ſhine with that unuſual
Brightneſs, by reaſon of the interpoſition of
ſuch Vapours, which do multiply their Light;
and ſo the Alteration will be here only, and
not in the Heavens. Thus Ariſtotle thought
the appearance of the milky way was produ-
ced: For he held, that there were many lit-
tle Stars, which by their Influence did conſtant-
ly attract ſuch a Vapour towards that place of
Heaven, ſo that it always appeared white.