Planisphaerium Copernicarum Sive Systema Universi Totius Creati ex Hypothesi Copernicana in Plano Exhibitum
Andreas Cellarius (born c. 1630, fl. 1656-1702)
Chart from Atlas Coelestis, seu Harmonia Macrocosmica
Published by Jan Jansson (1558-1664)
Amsterdam, 1661
Handcolored engraving
WOP-93c

Planisphaerium Copernicarum... is one of the most spectacular plates in the entire volume with its resplendent, central, golden sun. This chart supports theories that Cellarius favored the idea of Copernican planetary system. Throughout Harmonica Macrocosmica, Copernican theories seem to be embellished with more lavish illustration, though in fairness to all hypotheses about the structure of of our planetary system, Cellarius includes representations of each major theory. At the bottom right is a portrait of Copernicus; the bottom left is a portrait of Aristarchus, an ancient astronomer who had proposed that the Earth revolves around the Sun.