Astronomical Images : Station and retrogradation of planets

Peter Apian

Astronomical Images

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This Venetian edition of Peuerbach's <i>Theoricae novae </i>was copied from Apian's 1528 edition, printed in Ingolstadt. Subsequently, the work went through several further editions. Apian's edition added new woodcuts as well as notations to some of those from earlier editions. Some errors in the woodcuts in the 1528 edition were repeated in this Venetian edition of 1537. A planet is said to be 'direct' when the line of its true motion proceeds eastward; 'retrograde' when it moves westward; 'stationary' when the line seems to stand still. The first station is where the planet will be when it begins to be retrograde. The second station is where the planet will be when it begins to be direct.</p>