Description

This item is a monochrome celestial map showing both the component stars and figural representations of the constellations Cetus, Taurus, Triangulus, Pisces, Aries, Orion, and Eridanus. It also shows (using a figure of a star with a tail attached to it) the progress of a comet through the area, with daily readings of the comet’s location from December 31 to February 2. There is a key at the bottom of the map that describes the symbols for the different magnitudes of the stars.

This image depicts the passage of the Great Comet of 1664, and comes from Stanislaus Lubienieck's Theatrum Cometicum, Vol. 1 (Amsterdam: Typis Danielis Baccamude, 1666).

Type

inscription

Location

lower margin

Method

printed

Text

Figura observat Comet. a R.D.P. AEgidio Franc. de Gottinies S.I. in Collegio Rom. Math. Prof. mens. Ian. et Febr. factar ad Communicat R. D. P. Alb. Curtij S. I. Pertin

Type

inscription

Location

top right

Method

hand-written

Text

No. 7