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Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds

by Bernard Le Bovier de FONTENELLE (1657 - 1757)

That the Earth is a Planet which Turns on Itself and Round the Sun Part 1

This book is a popular science book written in the late 1600s. It is written as a series of conversations between a gallant philosopher and a countess, while walking in her garden and gazing at the stars. The philosopher explains the heliocentric (sun as the centre) model of the solar system and also muses on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. While it explains the heliocentric model, unlike other astronomy works of the time, it did not attract the attention of the Church. (Summary by TriciaG, modified from Wikipedia)

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Listen next episodes of Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds:
That the Earth is a Planet which Turns on Itself and Round the Sun Part 2 , That the Moon is an Inhabited World Part 2 , Some Particulars Concerning the World in the Moon, and Proofs of the other Planets being likewise Inhabited Part 2 , Some Particulars concerning the Worlds of Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn Part 2 , That the fix'd Stars are so many Suns, every one of which gives Light to a World Part 2 , Some New Observations that confirm what has been laid down in the preceeding Discourses and several late Discoveries which have been made in the Heavens Part 2 , Some New Observations that confirm what has been laid down in the preceeding Discourses and several late Discoveries which have been made in the Heavens Part 1 , Some Particulars Concerning the World in the Moon, and Proofs of the other Planets being likewise Inhabited Part 1 , Some Particulars concerning the Worlds of Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn Part 1 , That the fix'd Stars are so many Suns, every one of which gives Light to a World Part 1 , That the Moon is an Inhabited World Part 1