[1] Mario Bettinus studied mathematics under the Belgian Jean Verviers and Giuseppe Biancani at the Jesuit College of S. Rocco, in Parma.

[5] According to Bettini, if there were very high mountains on the Moon, the lunar disk observed with the telescope would appear irregular and jagged, while on the contrary, it looked perfectly round.

[12] This book, reflecting his many interests, is a collection of scientific mysteries embracing everything from geometrical demonstrations to illusionistic stage sets, perpetual motion machines, anamorphoses and sundials.

The work included a commentary on the first six books of Euclid, a traditional part of Jesuit mathematical curriculum and a form followed by Clavius a half century earlier.

His machines of war were mentioned by Montecuccoli, by the famous Jesuit mathematicians Athanasius Kircher and Jacques Ozanam and by the Polish master of artillery, Casimir Semenowycz.

It was read by John Collins and Isaac Barrow[16] and a copy of it can be found in the library of the English physician and philosopher Sir Thomas Browne.