Occult Literature
The Pole’s Precession through the Constellations
A circular track and radiating lines pass among figures, animals and named stars on an illustrated constellation map. Ball’s accompanying account credits the diagram to C. Piazzi Smyth and uses it to show the changing position of the celestial pole. The mythological figures give the abstract circular motion a recognisable stellar setting. The illustration belongs to the book’s discussion of precession.
Read the source pageLoading your collection…
Citation
C. Piazzi Smyth (design). "The Pole’s Precession through the Constellations" [editorial title]. In The Story of the Heavens, Sir Robert Stawell Ball. New and revised 1905 edition, 1905, Cassell and Company, Limited. Source scan leaf 602. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/gallery-20261108-0138-0602
Source details
Editorial title and description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Descriptive title supplied for the visually reviewed historical illustration. The surrounding book presents the original author's interpretation.
Sources
From the book
The Story of the HeavensSir Robert Stawell Ball1905More from this book
Inside the Dome of Dunsink Observatory
Comparative Spectra and Dark Absorption Lines
The Total Solar Eclipse of 29 July 1878Related illustrations
Cite this illustration
C. Piazzi Smyth (design). The Pole’s Precession through the Constellations. The Story of the Heavens. Scan leaf 602. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/gallery-20261108-0138-0602