The two revolutions, I mean the annual revolutions of the declination and of the centre of the Earth, are not completely equal; that is the return of the declination to its original value is slightly ahead of the period of the centre. Hence it necessarily follows that the equinoxes and solstices seem to anticipate their timing, not because the sphere of the fixed stars moves to the east, but rather the equatorial circle moves to the west, being at an angle to the plane of the ecliptic in proportion to the declination of the axis of the terrestrial globe.
Nicolaus CopernicusIn so many and such important ways, then, do the planets bear witness to the earth's mobility.
Nicolaus CopernicusFor I am not so enamoured of my own opinions that I disregard what others may think of them.
Nicolaus CopernicusMore stars in the north are seen not to set, while in the south certain stars are no longer seen to rise.
Nicolaus CopernicusNot only the phenomena of the others followed from this, but also it so bound together both the order and magnitude of all the planets and the spheres and the heaven itself, that in no single part could one thing be altered without confusion among the other parts and in all the universe.
Nicolaus Copernicus