Early view of the near side of the Moon

A wonderful illustration of the Moon by Athanasius Kircher from 'Mundus Subterraneus'. The map shows the near side of the moon and based on observations by Kircher and Christoph Scheiner. Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) was a German Jesuit polymath based in Rome and one of the most prolific and widely read scholars of the 17th century. His works span cartography, geology, Egyptology, cosmology, and natural philosophy, combining scientific observation with imaginative synthesis. Best known for books such as Mundus Subterraneus and China Illustrata, Kircher’s publications are distinguished by their elaborate engraved maps and diagrams, including depictions of volcanoes, the interior of the earth, and the ancient world.