Ephemerides with complex astrological calculations, and almanacs interpreting celestial events for use in medicine and for choosing times to plant crops, were popular in Elizabethan England. In 1597, the English mathematician and physician Thomas Hood made a set of paper instruments that used revolving overlays to help students work out relationships between fixed stars or constellations, the midheaven, and the twelve astrological houses. Hood's instruments also illustrated, for pedagogical purposes, the supposed relationships between the signs of the zodiac, the planets, and the parts of the human body adherents believed were governed by the planets and signs. While Hood's presentation was innovative, his astrological information was largely standard and was taken from Gerard Mercator's astrological disc made in 1551, or a source used by Mercator. Despite its popularity, Renaissance astrology had what historian Gabor Almasi calls "elite debate", exemplified by the polemical letters of Swiss physician Thomas Erastus who fought against astrology, calling it "vanity" and "superstition." Then around the time of the new star of 1572 and the comet of 1577 there began what Almasi calls an "extended epistemological reform" which began the process of excluding religion, astrology and anthropocentrism from scientific debate. By 1679, the yearly publication La Connoissance des temps eschewed astrology as a legitimate topic.
ephemerides with complex astrological calculations and almanacs interpreting celestial events for use in medicine and for choosing times to plant crops were popular in elizabethan england in 1597 the english mathematician and physician thomas hood made a set of paper instruments that used revolving overlays to help students work out relationships between fixed stars or constellations the midheaven and the twelve astrological houses hood's instruments also illustrated for pedagogical purposes the supposed relationships between the signs of the zodiac the planets and the parts of the human body adherents believed were governed by the planets and signs while hood's presentation was innovative his astrological information was largely standard and was taken from gerard mercator's astrological disc made in 1551 or a source used by mercator despite its popularity renaissance astrology had what historian gabor almasi calls "elite debate" exemplified by the polemical letters of swiss physician thomas erastus who fought against astrology calling it "vanity" and "superstition" then around the time of the new star of 1572 and the comet of 1577 there began what almasi calls an "extended epistemological reform" which began the process of excluding religion astrology and anthropocentrism from scientific debate by 1679 the yearly publication la connoissance des temps eschewed astrology as a legitimate topic