Mars, though generally advancing from west to east among the stars, occasionally pauses, retraces his steps for awhile, again pauses, and then resumes his ordinary onward progress.  Copernicus showed clearly how this effect was produced by the real motion of the earth, combined with the real motion of Mars.  In the adjoining figure we represent a portion of the circular tracks in which the earth and Mars move in accordance with the Copernican doctrine.  I show particularly the case where the earth comes directly between the planet and the sun, because it is on such occasions that the retrograde movement (for so this backward movement of Mars is termed) is at its highest.  Mars is then advancing in the direction shown by the arrow-head, and the earth is also advancing in the same direction.  We, on the earth, however, being unconscious of our own motion, attribute, by the principle I have already explained, an equal and opposite motion to Mars.  The visible effect upon the planet is, that Mars has two movements, a real onward movement in one direction, and an apparent movement in the opposite direction.  If it so happened that the earth was moving with the same speed as Mars, then the apparent movement would exactly neutralise the real movement, and Mars would seem to be at rest relatively to the surrounding stars.  Under the actual circumstances represented, however, the earth is moving faster than Mars, and the consequence is, that the apparent movement of the planet backwards exceeds the real movement forwards, the net result being an apparent retrograde movement.

With consummate skill, Copernicus showed how the applications of the same principles could account for the characteristic movements of the planets.  His reasoning in due time bore down all opposition.  The supreme importance of the earth in the system vanished.  It had now merely to take rank as one of the planets.

The same great astronomer now, for the first time, rendered something like a rational account of the changes of the seasons.  Nor did certain of the more obscure astronomical phenomena escape his attention.

He delayed publishing his wonderful discoveries to the world until he was quite an old man.  He had a well-founded apprehension of the storm of opposition which they would arouse.  However, he yielded at last to the entreaties of his friends, and his book was sent to the press.  But ere it made its appearance to the world, Copernicus was seized by mortal illness.  A copy of the book was brought to him on May 23, 1543.  We are told that he was able to see it and to touch it, but no more, and he died a few hours afterwards.  He was buried in that Cathedral of Frauenburg, with which his life had been so closely associated.

TYCHO BRAHE.

The most picturesque figure in the history of astronomy is undoubtedly that of the famous old Danish astronomer whose name stands at the head of this chapter.  Tycho Brahe was alike notable for his astronomical genius and for the extraordinary vehemence of a character which was by no means perfect.  His romantic career as a philosopher, and his taste for splendour as a Danish noble, his ardent friendships and his furious quarrels, make him an ideal subject for a biographer, while the magnificent astronomical work which he accomplished, has given him imperishable fame.