About the rotation of the celestial sphere - About the rotation of the celestial sphere

Copernicus's main work. It is considered the source of the modern heliocentric theory. The original title was De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. It was published in 1543. Copernicus, a canon of the Frauenburg Cathedral, wrote down the ideas he had developed since studying in northern Italy in a pamphlet called "Outlines" and circulated it among his friends. After further astronomical observations, he began to write in earnest around 1530 and compiled this book. However, he hesitated to publish it due to concerns that he would be accused of heresy. However, he accepted the encouragement of Bishop Giese and the urging of Rheticus, and decided to publish it. With Rheticus's help, the book was published at the Gutenberg printing house in Nuremberg.

This book consists of six volumes, and its contents are as follows. Volume 1 explains that the Earth is spherical and undergoes three types of motion - rotation, revolution, and precession - and the spherical triangle theorem. Volume 2 explains the determination of celestial coordinates and time, and the basics of spherical astronomy. Volume 3 explains that the precession of the vernal equinox, the unequal motion of the Sun, and other phenomena are caused by the motion of the Earth. Volume 4 provides a theory that solar and lunar eclipses are caused by the revolution of the Moon, and compares the sizes and distances of various celestial bodies. Volume 5 explains the apparent motion of the planets in terms of their revolutions through space, and compares the orbital radii of each planet. Volume 6 determines the orbital inclination of the planets due to changes in ecliptic latitude.

The first copy of this book was delivered to the author on his deathbed. The Vatican considered it to be a simple calculation of the positions of the heavens, but during the trial of Galileo it was placed on the Index of Prohibited Books.

[Shimamura Fukutaro]

"On the Rotation of the Celestial Bodies" translated by Yuri Yajima (Iwanami Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

コペルニクスの主著。近代地動説の原典とされる。原著名はDe revolutionibus orbium coelestium。1543年刊。フラウエンブルク聖堂参事会員コペルニクスは、北イタリア遊学以来の着想を小冊子『概要』に記して知友に回覧するとともに、さらに天体観測を重ねて1530年ごろ本格的な著述に入り、本書をまとめた。しかし異端のとがめをおもんぱかって、その公刊をためらった。ところがギーゼ司教の推賞とレティクスの懇請を受け入れて、出版を決心した。出版はレティクスの斡旋(あっせん)によってニュルンベルクのグーテンベルク印刷所で行われた。

　本書は全六巻からなり、内容は以下のとおりである。第一巻は地球が球形で自転・公転・歳差という3種の運動をすること、および球面三角形の定理。第二巻は天球座標と時間の決定、球面天文学の基礎。第三巻は春分点の歳差、太陽の不等速運行などの起因が地球の運動にあること。第四巻は日・月食が月の公転によることの理論づけ、諸天体の大きさや距離の比較。第五巻は諸惑星の視運動を空間内の公転によって説明し、各惑星の軌道半径を比較。第六巻は惑星の黄緯変化による軌道傾斜の決定。

　この書の第一冊は著者の臨終の床に届けられた。教皇庁はこの書を単なる天体位置の計算書とみなしたが、ガリレイ裁判の際、改めて禁書目録に登録した。

［島村福太郎］

『矢島祐利訳『天体の回転について』（岩波文庫）』

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