Shape of the Earth

The shape of the Earth can be inferred directly from the shape of the shadow it throws on the moon during an eclipse. By observing this shadow, we can rule out other shapes such as triangular, square or hexagonal. Thus, direct observation tells us that the earth is a sphere and consequently that the globe is a good representation of the way the Earth actually is.

Note that there is a printer's error. The images for the tetragon and triangle are mismatched with the text. Although correct in earlier and later printings, this error suggests that proofreading was minimal.

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