SECTION Ili. 229 north-east, and by east, east-north-east, east and by- north, east, &c. Then from the east toward the south. it proceeds much in the same manner. The whole circle of 300 degrees divided in this manner is called the mariner's compass, by which they count from what point of the heavens the wind blows, and toward what point ofthe earth they direct their sailing, which they call steer- ing their course. See figure it. IX, and X, are the two solsticial points : These are the be- ginning of the signs cancer and capricorn in the ecliptic line, where the eclipticjust touches those two tropics. 'These points chew the sun's, place the longest and shortest days, (viz.) the 21st of June and the 21st of llecsmber. Note, These two days are called thesummer and winter solstices, because the sun seems to stand still, i. e. to make the length of days neither increase,nor decrease sensibly for 20 days together. XI, and XII, are aries and libra, or the two equinoctial points, where the ecliptic cuts the equator : When the sun enters into thse two signs, the days and nights are equal all over the world. It enters aries in spring the 21st of March, which is called thevernal equinox, and libra in Autumn the 23d of Sep- tember, which is called the autumnal equinox. These four points, (viz.) two equinoctial and two solsticial, divide the ecliptic into the four quarters of the year. Here let it be noted, that the twelve constellations or signs in the heavens obtained their naines about two thousand years ago or more ; and at thattime the stars that make up aries or the rain, were in the place were the ecliptic ascending cuts the equator ; but now the constellation aries is moved upward toward the place of cancer near thirty degrees ; and so every constellation is moved forward in the ecliptic from thewest to- ward the east near thirty degrees ; so that the constellation or stars that make up the sign pisces are now in the place where aries was, or where the ecliptic cuts the equator in the spring : And the constellation virgo is now where libre was, or where the ecliptic cuts the equator in autumn. So gemini is in the summer solstice where cancer was ; and sctgittartas in the win- ter solstice where capricorn was : And by this means the sun is got into the equinoxes in pisces and virgo, and is arrived at the solstices in gemini and sagittarius, i. e. when it is among those stars. This alteration is called the procession ofthe equinox, i. e. of the equinoctial signs or stars, which seem to be gone forward, i. e. from west to east ; but some call it the retrocession of the equinox, i. e. of the two equinoctial points, which seem to begone backwards, i. e. from east to West. This comes to pass by some small variation of the situation of the axis of the earth with re- gard to the axis of the ecliptic, round which it moves by a coni- r3
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