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frame of the whole world, as the circle of the heaven and the earth. This is sometimes called a martial sphere, for the orbs of the planets are called their spheres, that is, the circles in which they move.
Ascension is the rising of any star, or any part of the ecliptic above the horizon-Descension is its going down.
Right ascension of a star, is that part of the equinox that riseth or setteth with a star in the right sphere; but an oblique sphere, is that part of the equinoctial in degrees, containing between the first point of Aries, and that part of the equinoctial which passeth by the meridian with the centre of the star.
Oblique ascenison is a part of the equinoctial in degrees containing between the beginning of Aries and that of the equinox, which rises with any star or part of the ecliptic in an oblique sphere.
Essential difference is the difference between the right and oblique ascension, or the number of degrees contained between that place and the equinox that riseth with the centre of a star, and that place of tho equinox that cometh to the meridian with the same star.
Solstice is in the summer when the sun is in the beginning of Cancer: and in the winter when the sun enters into Capricorn: because then the days seem to stand still, and seem neither to increaso or decrease above two minutes in ten or twelve days.
Constellation is a certain number of stars supposed to be limited within some form or likeness; as Aries the Ram is said to have thirteen stars;-Taurus the Bull, thirty-three: Arcturus, Orion, and the Pleiades, mentioned in Job, ix. 9, are said to be constellatiads.
Planets are the seven cratique, or wandering stars, called Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury,
