This book documents the two ideas of cosmos that prevailed from about 500 BCE until about 1840 CE. These two ideas of cosmos were the foundation for theories of creation that continue even today.

Both of these ideas of cosmos were based on the perception of the sky as a solid structure, a work of art, divine art. The four revolutionary scientists of the modern era Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, and Newton did a great deal to challenge the cosmos. Their work was limited, however, to our solar system. They left the solid sky standing.

This book identifies Edmond Halley as a neglected...