[1] By the Orbit of a Planet is commonly understood the Tract or Ring,
described by its Center round the Sun, but by the Plane of the Orbit is
meant a flat Surface extended every way thro’ the Orbit infinitely.
[2] N. B. According to _Biachini_’s Observations, _Venus_’s axis
inclines 75 degrees from the perpendicular to the plane of the Ecliptic
(which is 51½ deg. more than the axis of our Earth) her Tropics are
only 15 deg. from her Poles, and her Polar Circles at the same distance
from her _Equator_; so that the Sun’s greatest Declination on each side
of her _Equator_ is 75 deg. by which she must undergo a much greater
variety of seasons than we do on our Earth.
[3] ☌ Is a mark commonly used for conjunction; thus ☌ with the ☉, is to
be read conjunction with the Sun.
[4] _Prob. VI._
[5] _Prob._ XIII.
[6] The insensible change in the Longitude, Right Ascension, and
Declination of the Fixed Stars, made by their slow motion, parallel to
the ecliptic (being but 1 degree in 72 years) is not worth notice in
this place.
[7] _Phases_ of the Moon are those different appearances we observe in
her, according to her position in respect to the Sun and Earth.