Essays

• Epicycles and Symmetry

  When we solve Kepler’s equation using power series, or Newton–Raphson iteration, or numerical evaluation of contour integrals, are we not just unraveling our own epicycles? The difference is that we (i.e. Kepler) have named the monster that can never be caught, pointed at the star that can never be grasped. Its name is a transcendental equation.