An example of an analogy used in writing about science:
"…my teacher was especially influenced by the realisation that the chief cause of all the uncertainty in astronomy was that the masters of this science (no offence is intended to divine Ptolemy, the father of astronomy) fashioned their theories and devices for correcting the motion of the heavenly bodies with too little regard for the rule which reminds us that the order and motions of the heavenly spheres agree in an absolute system. We fully grant these distinguished men their due honour, as we should. Nevertheless, we should have wished them, in establishing the harmony of the motions, to imitate the musicians who, when one string has either tightened or loosened, with great care and skill regulate and adjust the tones of all the other strings, until all together produce the desired harmony, and no dissonance is heard in any."
Rheticus (1959) The Narratio Prima (1539, Translated by. E. Rosen), in Three Copernican Treatises (Ed. E. Rosen) Dover Publications (pp.107-196).
This quote uses an analogy between the arrangement of heavenly bodies in astronomical models and the way a musical instrument is tuned to give harmony between the different tones.
Read examples of scientific analogies
The 'the harmony of the motions' can be understood to reflect the historical notion that there is a 'harmony of the spheres' – a kind of cosmic chord played by the moving bodies.
Read about the harmony of the spheres
