Mathematical Astronomy in Copernicus's De Revolutionibus, 2 Volume Set (Studies in the History of Mathematics and the Physical Sciences, No. 10)

When I first laid out the framework for A History of Ancient Mathe­ matical Astronomy, I intended to carry the discussion down to the last applications of Greek astronomical methodology, i. e. Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler. But as the work proceeded, it became evident that this plan was much too ambitious, and so I decided to terminate my History with late antiquity, well before Islam. Nevertheless, I did not discard the running commentary that I had prepared when studying De revolutionibus in its relation to the methodology of the Almagest. Only recently, E. S. Kennedy and his collaborators had opened access to the" Maragha School" (mainly Ibn ash-Shalir), revealing close parallels to Copernicus's procedures. Accordingly, it seemed useful to make available a modern analysis of De revolutionibus, and thus in 1975 I prepared for publication "Notes on Copernicus. " In the meantime, however, Noel Swerdlow, also starting from Greek astronomy, not only extended his work into a deep analysis of De revolu­ tionibus, but also systematically investigated its sources and predecessors (Peurbach, Regiomontanus, etc. ). I was aware of these studies through his publications as well as from numerous conversations on the subject at The Institute for Advanced Study and at Brown University. It became clear to me that my own investigations lay at too superficial a level, and I therefore withdrew my manuscript and suggested to Swerdlow that he undertake a thoroughgoing revision and amplification of my "Notes. " His acceptance of my proposal initiated the present publication. When I first laid out the framework for A History of Ancient MatheƯ matical Astronomy, I intended to carry the discussion down to the last applications of Greek astronomical methodology, i. e. Copernicus, Brahe, and Kepler. But as the work proceeded, it became evident that this plan was much too ambitious, and so I decided to terminate my History with late antiquity, well before Islam. Nevertheless, I did not discard the running commentary that I had prepared when studying De revolutionibus in its relation to the methodology of the Almagest. Only recently, E.S. Kennedy and his collaborators had opened access to the" Maragha School" (mainly Ibn ash-Shalir), revealing close parallels to Copernicus's procedures. Accordingly, it seemed useful to make available a modern analysis of De revolutionibus, and thus in 1975 I prepared for publication "Notes on Copernicus." In the meantime, however, Noel Swerdlow, also starting from Greek astronomy, not only extended his work into a deep analysis of De revoluƯ tionibus, but also systematically investigated its sources and predecessors (Peurbach, Regiomontanus, etc.). I was aware of these studies through his publications as well as from numerous conversations on the subject at The Institute for Advanced Study and at Brown University. It became clear to me that my own investigations lay at too superficial a level, and I therefore withdrew my manuscript and suggested to Swerdlow that he undertake a thoroughgoing revision and amplification of my "Notes." His acceptance of my proposal initiated the present publication Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages xvii-xvii General Introduction....Pages 1-95 Trigonometry and Spherical Astronomy....Pages 97-123 The Motions of the Earth....Pages 125-190 Lunar Theory and Related Subjects....Pages 191-286 Planetary Theory of Longitude....Pages 287-479 Planetary Theory of Latitude....Pages 481-537 Front Matter....Pages 538-538 Notation and Symbols....Pages 539-541 Parameters....Pages 543-547 Tables....Pages 549-559 Figures....Pages 561-691 Back Matter....Pages 693-711 Pt. 1: Text--pt. 2: Tables. N.m. Swerdlow, O. Neugebauer. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 693-701.