Astronomy Explained Upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles and Made Easy to Those who have not Studied Mathematics

Of all the sciences cultivated by mankind, Astronomy is acknowledged to be, and undoubtedly is, the most sublime, the most interesting, and the most useful. For, by knowledge derived from this science, not only the bulk of the Earth is discovered, the situation and extent of the countries and kingdoms upon it ascertained, trade and commerce carried on to the remotest parts of the world, and the various products of several countries distributed for the health, comfort, and conveniency of its inhabitants; but our very faculties are enlarged with the grandeur of the ideas it conveys, our minds exalted above the low contracted prejudices of the vulgar, and our understandings clearly convinced, and affected with the conviction, of the existence, wisdom, power, goodness, and superintendency of the SUPREME BEING! So that without an hyperbole,

“An undevout Astronomer is mad.”

2. From this branch of knowledge we also learn by what means or laws the Almighty carries on, and continues the admirable harmony, order, and connexion observable throughout the planetary system; and are led by very powerful arguments to form the pleasing deduction, that minds capable of such deep researches not only derive their origin from that adorable Being, but are also incited to aspire after a more perfect knowledge of his nature, and a stricter conformity to his will.

By Astronomy we discover that the Earth is at so great a distance from the Sun, that if seen from thence it would appear no bigger than a point; although it’s circumference is known to be 25,020 miles. Yet that distance is so small, compared with the distance of the Fixed Stars, that if the Orbit in which the Earth moves round the Sun were solid, and seen from the nearest Star, it would likewise appear no bigger than a point, although it is at least 162 millions of miles in diameter. For the Earth in going round the Sun is 162 millions of miles nearer to some of the Stars at one time of the year than at another; and yet their apparent magnitudes, situations, and distances from one another still remain the same; and a telescope which magnifies above 200 times does not sensibly magnify them: which proves them to be at least 400 thousand times farther from us than we are from the Sun.

It is not to be imagined that all the Stars are placed in one concave surface, so as to be equally distant from us; but that they are scattered at immense distances from one another through unlimited space. So that there may be as great a distance between any two neighbouring Stars, as between our Sun and those which are nearest to him. Therefore an Observer, who is nearest any fixed Star, will look upon it alone as a real Sun; and consider the rest as so many shining points, placed at equal distances from him in the Firmament. By the help of telescopes we discover thousands of Stars which are invisible to the naked eye; and the better our glasses are, still the more become visible: so that we can set no limits either to their number or their distances. The celebrated Huygens carries his thoughts so far, as to believe it not impossible that there may be Stars at such inconceivable distances, that their light has not yet reached the Earth since it’s creation; although the velocity of light be a million of times greater than the velocity of a cannon bullet, as shall be demonstrated afterwards § 197, 216: and, as Mr. Addison very justly observes, this thought is far from being extravagant, when we consider that the Universe is the work of infinite power, prompted by infinite goodness; having an infinite space to exert itself in; so that our imaginations can set no bounds to it.