It is an easier matter to prove that Comets are in the Aether, then to declare how they came there. Some ancient Philosophers judged them to be coaevons with the Planets, and fixed ⟨p. 8⟩Stars, and that only their appearance and not their existence is new. This Opinion hwas embraced by Pythagoras, Diogenes, Seneca, and by the old Chaldeans. Nor is it contradicted by Columbus, Licetus, Cartesius, with some other late Writers. And it must be acknowledged, that notwithstanding their disappearance at certain times, for many years together, they may be coetaneous, and altogether of the same nature with the true Planets. A rectilineal motion may soon cause a Star to vanish out of our sight which yet hath a real existence still. Or some density or obscurity in the Atmosphere though our Air should be never so clear, may cause it to be unobservable by us. Ancient Writers speak of some fixed Stars which are not seen by us. And divers of them do not now appear to be of the same magnitude, as in former ages. And sundry new Stars have of late appeared which the former Generation never saw. It seems not consonant to reason to imagine, either that the old Stars are lost, or that new ones are of late created, those glorious celestial Bodies being of perpetual duration. The Stars are by the Hebrews called Chochabim, probably by Antiphrasis, ⟨p. 9⟩from Chabah extinxit, because they are Lights which never go out; And for ought that any man is able to prove to the contrary, they shall remain as everlasting Monuments of the power & wisdom of God, throughout the days of Eternity. Nevertheless, it is admirable ito consider, that there is a Star of later times observed in collo Coeti, which disappears every year for several Months, and then appears again, in the very same place where it was the last year; Being at first very small and obscure, but afterwards a bright Star of the second magnitude. Also, a new Star appeared in the Swans breast, A.D. 1601 and continued shining there until the year 1660. and then it disappeared, kand when, or whether ever it will be seen again, no man can say: also a new Star was lately (viz. Anno. 1672.) discerned in the Swans head.4 But though the Argument from disappearance be invalid, it is from other reasons manifest, that they are not such Planets as those created at the beginning of the World are.
It is an easier matter to prove that Comets are in the Aether, then to declare how they came there. Some antient Philosophers judged them to be coaevons with the Planets, and fixed ⟨p. 8⟩Stars, and that only their appearance and not their existence is new. This Opinion hwas embraced by Pythagoras, Diogenes, Seneca, and by the old Chaldeans. Nor is it contradicted by Columbus, Licetus, Cartesius, with some other late Writers. And it must be acknowledged, that notwithstanding their disappearance at certain times, for many years together, they may be coaetaneous, and altogether of the same nature with the true Planets. A rectilineal motion may soon cause a Star to vanish out of our sight which yet hath a real existence still. Or some density or obscurity in the Atmosph•re though our Air should be never so clear, may cause it to be unobservable by us. Antient Writers speak of some fixed Stars which are not seen by us. And divers of them do not now appear to be of the same magnitude, as in former ages. And sundry new Stars have of late appeared which the former Generation never saw. It seems not consonant to reason to imagine, either that the old Stars are lost, or that new ones are of late created, those glorious coelestial Bodies being of perpetual duration. The Stars are by the Hebrews called Chochabim, probably by Antiphrasis, ⟨p. 9⟩from Chabah extinxit, because they are Lights which never go out; And for ought that any man is able to prove to the contrary, they shall remain as everlasting Monuments of the power & wisdome of God, throughout the dayes of Eternity. Nevertheless, it is admirable ito consider, that there is a Star of later times observed in collo Coeti, which disappears every year for several Moneths, and then appears again, in the very same place where it was the last year; Being at first very small and obscure, but afterwards a bright Star of the second magnitude. Also, a new Star appeared in the Swans breast, A.D. 1601 and continued shining there until the year 1660. and then it disappeared, kand when, or whether ever it will be seen again, no man can say: also a new Star was lately (viz. Anno. 1672.) discerned in the Swans head.4 But though the Argument from disappearance be invalid, it is from other reasons manifest, that they are not such Planets as those created at the beginning of the World are.
- hConsulantur Aristot▪ meteor Lib. 1▪ Chap. 6. Plutarch de placitis Philosophorum, L. 3. Chap. 5. Ricciolus de Cometis L. 8. P. 36, 40.
- iDe hac admiranda stella doctissimus Hevelius peculiarem librum scripsit
- kCo•etographia P. 382.
- 4See the Philosophical transactions for year 1677. P. 854.
