{ "viewingDirection": "left-to-right", "metadata": [ { "label": "Uniform Title", "value": "Selenographia" }, { "label": "Origin Place", "value": "Gdansk" }, { "label": "Physical Location", "value": "Wren Library" }, { "label": "Extent", "value": "Leaf height: 360 mm, width: 360 mm." }, { "label": "Funding", "value": "" }, { "label": "Abstract", "value": "
The Selenographia<\/i>, literally meaning 'descriptions of the Moon' was published by Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687) in 1647. In addition to descriptions of the surface of the Moon, the book also contained other telescopic observations by Hevelius, as well as explanations of instruments. The Selenographia<\/i> is an unusual publication in the extent to which an author controlled the printed presentation of his work. The book contained observations made by Hevelius at his observatory using instruments (several of which he invented or improved upon), drawn and noted down by himself, then engraved by himself ' several images bear the signature: auctor sculpsit<\/i> (the author engraved) ' and published at his own expense. This avoided complications and errors that might be introduced during the publication process by other artists and printers. The book itself contains a wide range of representations of the Moon, including a series of the surface of the Moon through its phases. The Capucin, Antonius Maria Schrylaeus of Rhetia, in his Novem stellae circa Jovem, circa Saturnum sex, circa Martem nonnullae<\/i> (1643), had announced that he had observed nine stars around Jupiter, six around Saturn and several around Mars, almost all of them satellites. Hevelius set out to refute Schrylaeus and show that most of these new stars are fixed stars, by mapping out the stars with the date and time of observation recorded. Note again the inscription 'Auctor sculpsit<\/i>', which adds further authority to this image.<\/p>" }, { "label": "Date of Creation", "value": "1647" }, { "label": "Title", "value": "Mappings recording observations of Saturn, Mars and Jupiter" }, { "label": "Material", "value": "paper" }, { "label": "Classmark", "value": "Wren T.18.31" }, { "label": "Note(s)", "value": "
Links to other items:<\/p>
Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (Frontispiece to Hevelius' Selenographia<\/em>)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (Lens-grinding lathe)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (On the supposed new satellites of Jupiter)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (Polemoscope)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (Reflection of rays within a polemoscope)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (Stars in a region of Aquarius)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (The appearances of Saturn, Mars and Jupiter)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (An astronomer observing through a telescope)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (The full surface of the Moon)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (Schematisation of waxing Moon)<\/a><\/p> Further image from this work: Wren T.18.31 (General table of the phases of the Moon)<\/a><\/p>