,transcriber's ,note3 ,every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible1 including inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation4 ,some corrections of spelling and punctuation have been made4 ,they are listed at the end of the text4 ,italic text has been marked with underscores4 ,bold text has been marked with equals signs4 ,text marked thus was superscripted4 ,illustration ,,the ,,sun changes its position in space1 therefore it cannot be regarded as being in a condition of rest4 ,si concedimus1 eos1 qui corpora in mundi spatio moveri eademque non moveri posse dicunt1 insulsa loqui1 praesumere non licet hominem astronomum talem sententiam elocuturum utque eam demonstraret operam daturum esse4 ,by ,august ,tischner4 ,leipzig1 ,gustav ,fock4 #ahhc4 ,dedicated to all friends of ,rational ,astronomy4 ,illustration3 ,nicolaus ,copernicus4 ,terrae motor1 solis stator4 ,the system of ,copernicus is the only possible system2 it is the eternal base of all astronomical progress1 with this system the science of ,astronomy stands and falls1 and without it we must give up all explication as well as every scientifically founded predication4 ,hence it is clear that an astronomer of the present day cannot enter upon any other system1 even by way of trial4 ,dr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,maedler4 ,popul4 ,astr4 #ahfa4 p4p4 #dh4 #ed4 #fb4 ,an army of philosophers will not suffice to change the nature of an error and to convert it into truth4 ,ebn-,roshd 7,averrhoes71 ,arabian philosopher of the ,,xiith century4 ,astronomical science1 at the present day insists upon the system of ,copernicus1 which1 as is well known1 is based upon the theory of a fixed sun1 and remains convinced of the incontrovertible truth and importance of this system1 even after it has become an incontestable fact1 that the sun changes its position2 endeavouring to explain away this discrepancy by the sophism1 that the sun may be considered as in a condition of rest4 ,but the smallest movement of the sun overthrows the entire fabric of ,copernicus4 ,unless we take into account the observations1 made for the last #cjjj years1 respecting the movement of the sun in space1 it is impossible to comprehend the solar system and its movements4 ,theory must take notice of the phenomena of the sun's own movement and dare not cloak it under imaginary causes2 for so long as the motion of the sun is ignored1 it is impossible to know thoroughly the motion of the earth which follows it1 and if the motion of the earth be not known1 it is also impossible to know the motion of the other heavenly bodies1 belonging to the solar system1 as seen from the earth4 ,in a word1 the astronomical theory1 as it is now generally accepted and believed to be the only and doubtless true1 is wholly untenable1 requiring a total and essential reformation2 astronomical authors cling to ,j4 ,h4 ,maedler's assertion1 that every body will understand the impossibility for an astronomer of our time to enter upon any other system even by way of trial4 ,if this theory be converted into a dogma1 stagnation must commence and all progress becomes impossible4 ,in the history of science and its advance1 we find that there have been at all times new theories propounded1 which had often to be changed later on1 or even set aside by others diametrically opposite4 ,the principal circumstance which renders the system of ,copernicus impossible1 is that the orbits of the planets are considered as closed curves around the sun4 ,this view has frequently been attacked2 but it is maintained by astronomers1 as it is requisite for the elucidation of the system4 ,still it is evident that if the centre of attraction moves forward the bodies attracted by it cannot move around it4 ,let us examine the system of ,copernicus4 ,ptolemaeus first introduced his system among the ancients4 ,the earth was the fixed centre of the world and around it moved the moon1 the sun1 the planets and the stars4 ,this system lasted for ,,xv centuries4 ,the ,ptolemaic system was modified by ,copernicus1 and the system of ,copernicus was simply the inversion of the ,ptolemaic4 ,the sun took the place of the earth4 ,in the centre was a fixed point 7earth or sun71 around which the planets moved in larger or smaller orbits4 ,the main feature of both systems is that one of the heavenly bodies is stationary1 in order that the others may travel round it4 ,copernicus makes the sun to be motionless1 and the scientific world bows before his authority4 ,then we have the recurrent curves1 closed orbits 7or ellipses7 with their axes and their invariable plains2 for the planets move round the centre of the fixed sun4 ,whilst however learned men were striving with feverish ardour to confirm the system of ,copernicus2 whilst they were endeavouring to demonstrate in every possible way and by various means clearly1 that the sun is immoveable3 there came the discovery that the sun moves4 ,the astronomers of the past century proved that the sun not only has the apparent motion1 which every one sees2 but that it also has a motion proper to itself4 ,herschel commenced defining the course and direction of it1 and now-a-days no one doubts the truth of this fact1 it being the general opinion that not only the sun moves itself1 but that nothing at all in the world is in a state of rest4 ,astronomers1 however1 are of opinion that this discovery is of no consequence whatever as regards the system of ,copernicus1 which is still considered by them to be the most correct of all and the only possible one4 ,for more than a century there has not been found a single astronomer or scientific man1 to whom it has occurred that the motion proper to the sun1 might have1 in some way or another1 an influence on the present state of theoretical science4 ,they all seem to regard this fact as an accident1 involving no consequences and quite incapable of distracting them from their labours1 which they continue to work in the same manner as is indicated in the system of ,copernicus4 ,if an advancing motion is admitted to be the motion proper to the sun1 the orbits traversed by the planets cannot be closed4 ,but the question may be asked3 is it true that science contradicts itself in this way8 ,we reply3 ,yes6 astronomical observation has overtaken theoretical or explicative science4 ,theory has stood still4 ,in order to set their minds at rest1 learned men explain what they wish to explain1 and just as heavenly phenomena were accounted for according the systems of ,ptolemaeus1 of ,copernicus and of ,tycho de ,brahe1 so too there will be no lack of good reasons to account for the motion proper to the sun2 only history will tell us that the astronomers of the last but one decennium of the ,,xixth century have taught by writing and speaking in their schools1 that the sun is at the same time moving and not moving4 ,a science which cannot make any use of this immense discovery1 nor deduce any application from it1 does not possess any vital power2 it is a dead science1 it is strangled by those whose duty is to keep it alive1 to lead it onwards to perfection4 ,astronomers assert that the sun conducts its system with himself in mundane space1 but in the same breath they add3 with reference however to the planets it may be regarded as in a state of rest4 ,hence astronomers have discovered a motion which is at rest4 ,if the sun is not fixed1 the system of ,copernicus falls to ground4 ,either the sun moves1 or does not2 a moving sun in a condition of rest1 is an impossibility4 ,if the sun moves1 there is no fixed centre1 there are no closed or recurrent curves and no plains of orbits4 ,if these must be obtained at any price1 the sun must be definitively fixed1 it cannot be permitted to move onwards and yet at the same time not to move4 ,the fact that the sun moves1 cannot now be altered and cannot be any longer ignored2 and if mathematicians and astronomers do notwithstanding assert1 that the sun may with reference to its own planetary system be regarded as fixed1 or in a condition of rest1 in that the system moves as a whole without any change taking place in the relative position of the planets to each other1 or in their relation to the sun2 in fact without any alteration taking place in the configuration of the system--we reply1 this is one of those meaningless phrases1 which should find no place in a scientific discussion4 ,a body which is in motion cannot be in any way regarded as being motionless1 it would be just as reasonable to say that a locomotive1 dragging a train of carriages full of passengers1 could with reference to the latter be regarded as motionless4 ,the actual meaning of such an assertion is that the planets are attached to the sun in such a manner1 that they can neither approach to1 nor recede from it1 but must follow it whithersoever it goes4 ,we may in thought pursue a train of hypotheses and suppositions1 but they do not thereby acquire reality2 still1 in a normal condition of the human intellect1 it is impossible to conceive that any thing can exist and not exist at the same time4 ,from this confusion of ideas1 it might seem as if theoretical astronomy had got into an untenable position which is irreconcilable with science and ought therefore to endeavour to enter upon a better state1 as soon as possible4 ,theory ought therefore1 either to have accepted as a fact1 the motion proper to the sun with all its inevitable consequences1 or else1 to have denied this motion altogether4 ,but the astronomers ignore this alternative1 they have decided1 once for all and irrevocably that the sun moves and that at the same time it shall be motionless4 ,in this manner science loses its reputation and all learnedly technical expressions and formulas are not sufficient to cover the weak part4 ,the sun cannot be rendered motionless1 and if astronomers and men of science of the present day continue to ignore this fact1 they need not be surprised at the inevitable consequences of their own acts4 ,the system of ,copernicus presupposes the fixity of the sun1 as a conditio sine qua non4 ,the most abstruse investigations into the celestial mechanism could not be made without this axiom be granted4 ,the mathematician must have a fixed point1 a fixed central point of action for his coordinates1 he wants fixed invariable plains and closed curves1 a radius vector describing plains1 he wants axes and poles for the orbits1 in order that they may describe certain figures in the heaven1 and that the plains of the orbits may move1--one of the other4 ,naturally astronomers and men of science have never asked themselves the question1 how a heavenly body could be fixed in space4 ,when an astronomer asserts that the ,copernician system is the only possible1 he believes that it is impossible for the sun to have any motion of its own2 when he at the same time asserts that all astronomy stands or falls with this system1 he believes that no astronomical knowledge existed before the discovery of the ,copernician system1 and with the fall of the system all astronomical knowledge will cease to exist2 he believes moreover true astronomy to be that1 which men of science have imagined to be the truth regarding the heaven and the causes of the phenomena we see4 ,if astronomers had merely presented their ideas and opinions to the world as such1 and no more1 no one could raise any objection2 but they lay down their opinions in words and on paper as a positive science1 they give their view as incontroversible truths1 and this fact alters the situation1 for we cannot admit that science is a mere barge to be taken in tow by the imagination4 ,the fundamental axiom of astronomical theory1 such as the ,copernician system1 ,kepler's and ,newton's laws1 are not derived from a knowledge of fact1 they are the opinions1 views1 ideas and suppositions of individuals1 which have been adapted to the heaven1 and as they were generally accepted1 the question was never raised whether the opinions of an organic creature--however intelligent it might be--are really and truly that which we term penetrating behind the veil of nature and compelling it to yield up its secrets4 ,the fact of no other ideas being at hand which seemed to be better1 sufficed to transform these opinions into rules and to cause them to be accepted as the only admissible and correct truths4 ,the opinions set forth by ,copernicus1 ,kepler and ,newton are designed by astronomers of the present day under the collective title of the ,copernician system1 and they believe that these three dogmas1 systems and laws1 distinct as they are from each other1 proceed consequentially one from the other1 that they mutually supplement each the other1 and thus form a harmonious whole4 ,that not one of these things rests upon actual observation or even probable and perceptible facts1 and finally1 that none of them can be observed or verified1 but that they are all three creations of the imagination1 must be clearly evident to any one who occupies himself at all with the study of nature and more especially with the study of the heavenly phenomena4 ,when we say that astronomy is an earthly science1 we mean to imply that the heaven and the phenomena there apparent cannot be studied otherwise than as seen from the earth4 ,therefore astronomy is not a heavenly science1 it consists solely of such ideas as we are able to form1 that which we see on the heaven4 ,it is not astronomy that is grand1 compared with the vast objects with which it deals it dwindles to insignificance1 and we may say that to speak of it as being a science of the heavenly mechanism1 nay more of the laws of the universe1 is sheer nonsense4 ,the universe must be for us a mere term1 which does not convey any tangible idea to our minds4 ,as only a very small portion of the heavenly space and its contents is visible to our eyes1 astronomy--whatever may be the magnifying power placed at its disposal--must be confined within the limits of our vision and can therefore be no more than a small fragment4 ,in the positive sense of the word1 astronomy is more especially a science of observation1 which is its only1 but real and successful power4 ,it may be said that astronomy has raised observation to a science1 and its immense importance becomes more and more prominent as the explicative science loses in value2 which is the more easily accounted for by the fact that observation will finally bring about the overthrow of all untenable theories4 ,we see the heaven as we fly along1 the earth whirls us with itself through space1 hence astronomy cannot make any drawing room experiment1 it cannot reproduce any of the heavenly phenomena1 it can do nothing but observe4 ,if therefore the science of astronomy be more especially an observative science1 that which it does not and cannot observe1 must be for it as good as not existent4 ,but astronomy may1 in addition1 be designated the science of observation of the apparent things1 things as they seem to be1 for it is unable to see or regard the heavenly phenomena otherwise than they present themselves to it4 ,astronomy is not permitted to observe realities4 ,if therefore observation is itself a science1 it must necessarily be the basis of theory2 observation may be set aside--which is what is actually done--in this way we may plod on1 we may term our labour what we please2 but whatever is produced in this way is not astronomy4 ,but that glorious science whose sublime object is alone able to unfetter the mind of poor humanity--,astronomy--has a future before it4 ,any such as feel themselves called upon to study seriously the phenomena of nature1 may set about the task4 ,the sun is a sure guide4 ,the great mass of astronomical observations are almost exclusively of ,european origin1 those which in later times have been made in other parts of the earth1 are of a special character--they refer for the most part to the stars and are not numerous enough to furnish any general view1 but here the question is of establishing a universal astronomy available for the whole earth1 which1 founded on the actual type of the phenomena1 will become the result of science4 ,with respect to astronomical knowledge and its dissemination1 the discovery and proving of this type of the phenomena is of the greatest importance1 they must be found out not by calculation1 but by actual observation4 ,when discovered1 a large number of important and still undecided problems will be advanced towards solution4 ,it may be asked3 how and where shall we however find this original type8 and the earth itself supplies the answer by means of its--,equator4 ,no observer1 placed either north or south the equator1 can see the two poles of the heaven at once1 he cannot see the whole heavenly sphere2 at the equator the entire splendour of the firmament passes before his eyes during the space of--#ab hours4 ,the equator of the earth is always turned towards the sun1 and it thus indicates the direction taken by our planet2 therefore we must be able to find this type at the equator4 ,either it is there1 or it is nowhere else1 and it is indispensably necessary that astronomical observations made elsewhere should be repeated at the equator thus as it were confirmed4 ,the erection of small1 simple and detached observations along the line of the earth's equator1 at certain distances from each other1 and the subdivision of the work amongst the various observers1 according the objects1 would be of incalculable consequence1 and would in the course of a few years shed more light upon astronomical knowledge than all that has hitherto been done at hap-hazard and without any plan4 ,an international scientific society could take the matter in hand4 ,instruments of the most excellent kind are to be had in plenty1 and there is no lack of young and intelligent men4 ,moreover1 ever since #ahgd there has been established at ,quito1 the ,observatorio de ,collegio ,nacional1 the director of which ,mr4 ,g4 ,b4 ,menton might superintend the preliminary operations until such time as the work could be prosecuted with greater resources and according to a well considered plan4 ,such men as ,lick1 ,bischoffsheim1 ,remeis etc41 who are willing to make sufficient sacrifices in order to establish this glorious science upon more solid foundations1 which do not rest on an imaginary and untenable theory1 but on actual observation1 will surely be found4 ,success cannot be doubtful4 ,would not the ,americans1 who appreciate every thing on a grand scale and are not afraid of any expense in their undertakings1 do all in their power to further and promote this splendid work8#a ,if--as is well known--matters are not as they are assumed to be1 to what purpose have been and are these laborious works prosecuted and the undying works written8 ,if the imaginary is preferred to reality1 we set up an imaginary science1 without knowing anything about the heaven1 and the science thus set up will become the plaything of fancy4 ,if they inquire1 why theory denies reality--the motion of the sun--we shall find that it is because it prefers the imaginary4 ,the sun in motion destroys the found illusions of the astronomers1 this they will not submit to1 their untenable theory must continue to be looked upon as unadulteratest truth1 and the consequence is that the manifestations of the grand and sublime ,nature are put down as lies4 ,this idea of a fixed sun has taken such a firm hold of men's minds that there is no force in nature capable of exercising sufficient power to eradicate it1 the sun may move as it pleases1 and whilst the whither and rapidity of its motion are diligently studied1 men's minds are occupied with its fixity1 and these investigations and inquiries are prosecuted without any consequences being therefrom deduced4 ,directly a theory or a law is to be set up1 the sun is at once very firmly fixed on--ether4 ,astronomical writers consider that they have done quite enough1 when they have accorded honorable mention to the motion of the sun1 but their deductions1 conclusions1 theories1 proofs and laws are all based on the immobility of the sun1 according the system of ,copernicus4 ,the idea that the motion of the sun does not necessitate any alteration in the system of ,copernicus leads us to the utmost absurdity4 ,if the earth is to move in the invariable plain of its recurrent and closed ellipse1 it stands to reason1 it cannot follow the sun1 and the circulation around the centre at once falls to the ground4 ,it is a very remarkable fact1 that the astronomers of the by-gone century could1 and those of the present century can believe1 such as ,copernicus1 ,kepler and ,newton1 had they been aware of the motion of the sun1 would have set up the same system1 the same laws and theories1 as they based exclusively on the theory of its being immoveable4 ,this fact is one of which we are right to be ashamed4 ,the astronomers hug themselves1 with great complacency1 with the idea--which gradually becomes a delicious certainly--that they have mapped out the heaven very well1 and that any change in the arrangement is a thing not to be thought of4 ,if therefore any one of their fellows should get up--which has sometimes occurred--and say3 it is high time that we should clear up the science and subject this untenable theory to a strict examination and test1 the immense majority of facultists and authorities proclaim unanimously non possumus1 which is after all but a lingual verification of the first law of the nature#b4 99 99 99 99 99 ,why is it that the astronomers of the present day are unwilling to take into consideration and to study the consequences arising from the motion proper to the sun1 with reference to its own system8 ,why is it that they are unwilling to recognise or rather to grasp properly and to explain the apperceivable phenomena1 which the motion proper to the sun1 as seen from the surface of the earth1 must produce on the apparently hollow sphere of the heaven8 ,monter d'une echoppe a un palais1 c'est rare et beau2 monter de l'erreur a la verite1 c'est plus rare et c'est plus beau4 ,victor ,hugo4 ,il arrive frequemment que la croyance universelle d'un siecle1 croyance dont il n'etait donne a personne de s'affranchir a moins d'un effort extraordinaire de genie et de courage1 devient pour un autre siecle une absurdite si palpable qu'on n'a plus qu'a s'etonner qu'elle ait pu jamais prevaloir4 ,n4 ,tschernychewsky4 ,litterature4 #a4 ,sta1 sol1 ne moveare4 ,august ,tischner4 ,leipzig #ahha-ahhb4 ,gustav ,fock4 #b4 ,groesse1 ,entfernung und ,masse der ,sonne4 ,august ,tischner4 ,leipzig #ahhb4 ,gustav ,fock4 #c4 ,die ,sonne und die ,astronomie4 ,k4 ,nagy4 ,leipzig #ahff4 ,f4 ,a4 ,brockhaus4 #d4 ,memoire sur le systeme solaire et sur l'explication des phenomenes celestes4 ,charles ,nagy4 ,paris #ahfb4 ,leibner4 #e4 ,consideration sur les cometes1 elements de ,cometologie4 ,charles ,nagy4 ,paris #ahfb4 ,leibner4 #f4 ,systeme solaire d'apres la marche reelle du ,soleil4 ,e4 ,g4 ,fahrner4 ,paris #bme ed4 #ahfi4 #g4 ,das wahre ,sonnensystem4 ,bewegung und ,bahnen der ,gestirne nach einer neuen ,auffassung ueber dieselben im ,himmelsraume1 und zwar welche nicht in ,ellipsen statt hat4 ,james ,hermann ,milberg4 ,muenchen #ahfb4 #h4 ,die wahre ,gestalt der ,planeten- und ,kometenbahnen4 ,friedrick ,carl ,gustav ,stieber4 ,dresden #ahfd4 #i4 ,die ,sonne bewegt sich4 ,folgerungen aus dieser ,lehre in ,bezug auf die ,fixsterne und ,planeten4 ,c4 ,r47ohrbach74 ,berlin #aheb4 #aj4 ,ueber ,veranschaulichungsmittel fuer mathematische ,geographie4 ,erlaeuternde ,beigabe zu neu construirten ,veranschaulichungsapparaten fuer ,volksschulen und hoehere ,unterrichtsanstalten4 ,f4 ,a4 ,pueschmann1 ,seminaroberlehrer1 ,grimma4 #aa4 ,der ,himmels-,mechanik gaenzliche ,reform auf ,grund der inductiven ,logik mit der strengberechtigten philosophischen und mathematischen ,nachweisung4 ,v4 ,p4 ,kluk-,kluczycky4 #ahhj4 ,g4 ,,kreysing1 ,,leipzig4 ,illustration ,,footnotes3 #a ,moreover1 other1 smaller detached observatories1 might be erected on the east and west coasts of ,america and ,africa1 on the islands of ,sumatra1 ,borneo1 ,celebes and ,gilolo1 on one of the islands of ,gilbert's archipelago and upon one of the ,gallopagos islands1 if it be considered worth the effort to acquire some real knowledge as to the movement in space of the leader of our planetary system and the bodies pertaining to it4 #b ,inertia is the most simple and most natural 7sic7 law of nature which can be imagined4 ,laplace ,i p4 #d4 ,the following is a list of changes made to the original4 ,the first line is the original line1 the second the changed one4 ,copernicus makes the sun to be motienless1 ,copernicus makes the sun to be motionless1 mauner as is indicated in the system of manner as is indicated in the system of ideas being at hand which seemed be to better1 ideas being at hand which seemed to be better1 power4 ,if may be said that astronomy has power4 ,it may be said that astronomy has upon to sludy seriously the phenomena of upon to study seriously the phenomena of for the whole earth1 which1 founded of the for the whole earth1 which1 founded on the and the subdivision of the work amangst the and the subdivision of the work amongst the ,if the imaginary is prefered to reality1 we ,if the imaginary is preferred to reality1 we ,celebes and ,gilolo1 on one of the islands ol ,gilbert's ,celebes and ,gilolo1 on one of the islands of ,gilbert's or rather to graph propery and to explain or rather to grasp properly and to explain