1our parts muſt needs be very obſervable; certain ſpots and other
notable things in thoſe parts, being one while diſcernable, and
another while not. A like variation may alſo be obſerved towards
the North and South extremities of the ſame Diſcus (or Surface)
according as the Moons poſition is in one or the other Section of
its Dragon; For, if it be North, ſome of its parts towards the
North are hid, and ſome of thoſe parts towards the South are
diſcovered, and ſo on the contrary. Now that theſe
ces are really true, is verified by the Teleſcope, for there be in
the Moon two remarkable ſpots, one of which, when the Moon
is in the meridian, is ſituate to the Northweſt, and the other is
almoſt diametrically oppoſite unto it; and the firſt of theſe is
ſible even without the Teleſcope; but the other is not. That
wards the Northweſt is a reaſonable great ſpot of oval figure,
parated from the other great ones; the oppoſite one is leſſe, and
alſo ſevered from the biggeſt, and ſituate in a very cleer field; in
both theſe we may manifeſtly diſcern the foreſaid variations, and
ſee them one after another; now neer the edge or limb of the
Lunar Diſcus, and anon remote, with ſo great difference that
the diſtance betwixt the Northweſt and the circumference of the
Diſcus is more than twice as great at one time, as at the other;
and as to the ſecond ſpot (becauſe it is neerer to the
rence) ſuch mutation importeth more, than twice ſo much in the
former. Hence its manifeſt, that the Moon, as if it were drawn
by a magnetick vertue, conſtantly beholds the Terreſtrial Globe
with one and the ſame aſpect, never deviating from the ſame.
notable things in thoſe parts, being one while diſcernable, and
another while not. A like variation may alſo be obſerved towards
the North and South extremities of the ſame Diſcus (or Surface)
according as the Moons poſition is in one or the other Section of
its Dragon; For, if it be North, ſome of its parts towards the
North are hid, and ſome of thoſe parts towards the South are
diſcovered, and ſo on the contrary. Now that theſe
ces are really true, is verified by the Teleſcope, for there be in
the Moon two remarkable ſpots, one of which, when the Moon
is in the meridian, is ſituate to the Northweſt, and the other is
almoſt diametrically oppoſite unto it; and the firſt of theſe is
ſible even without the Teleſcope; but the other is not. That
wards the Northweſt is a reaſonable great ſpot of oval figure,
parated from the other great ones; the oppoſite one is leſſe, and
alſo ſevered from the biggeſt, and ſituate in a very cleer field; in
both theſe we may manifeſtly diſcern the foreſaid variations, and
ſee them one after another; now neer the edge or limb of the
Lunar Diſcus, and anon remote, with ſo great difference that
the diſtance betwixt the Northweſt and the circumference of the
Diſcus is more than twice as great at one time, as at the other;
and as to the ſecond ſpot (becauſe it is neerer to the
rence) ſuch mutation importeth more, than twice ſo much in the
former. Hence its manifeſt, that the Moon, as if it were drawn
by a magnetick vertue, conſtantly beholds the Terreſtrial Globe
with one and the ſame aſpect, never deviating from the ſame.
Two ſpots in the
Moon, by which it
is perceived that
ſhe hath respect to
the centre of the
Earth in her
tion.
Moon, by which it
is perceived that
ſhe hath respect to
the centre of the
Earth in her
tion.
SAGR. Oh! when will there be an end put to the new
ſervations aud diſcoveries of this admirable Inſtrument?
ſervations aud diſcoveries of this admirable Inſtrument?
SALV. If this ſucceed according to the progreſſe of other great
inventions, it is to be hoped, that in proceſſe of time, one may
arrive to the ſight of things, to us at preſent not to be imagined.
But returning to our firſt diſcourſe, I ſay for the ſixth reſemblance
betwixt the Moon and Earth, that as the Moon for a great part
of time, ſupplies the want of the Suns light, and makes the
nights, by the reflection of its own, reaſonable clear; ſo the
Earth, in recompence, affordeth it when it ſtands in moſt need,
by reflecting the Solar rayes, a very cleer illumination, and ſo
much, in my opinion, greater than that which cometh from her to
us, by how much the ſuperficies of the Earth is greater than that
of the Moon.
inventions, it is to be hoped, that in proceſſe of time, one may
arrive to the ſight of things, to us at preſent not to be imagined.
But returning to our firſt diſcourſe, I ſay for the ſixth reſemblance
betwixt the Moon and Earth, that as the Moon for a great part
of time, ſupplies the want of the Suns light, and makes the
nights, by the reflection of its own, reaſonable clear; ſo the
Earth, in recompence, affordeth it when it ſtands in moſt need,
by reflecting the Solar rayes, a very cleer illumination, and ſo
much, in my opinion, greater than that which cometh from her to
us, by how much the ſuperficies of the Earth is greater than that
of the Moon.
SAGR. Hold there, Salviatus hold there, and permit me the
pleaſure of relating to you, how at this firſt hint I have penetrated
the cauſe of an accident, which I have a thouſand times thought
upon, but could never find out. You would ſay, that the
fect light which is ſeen in the Moon, eſpecially when it is horned,
pleaſure of relating to you, how at this firſt hint I have penetrated
the cauſe of an accident, which I have a thouſand times thought
upon, but could never find out. You would ſay, that the
fect light which is ſeen in the Moon, eſpecially when it is horned,