I think what he's trying to say is that the sky is full of invisible gears, which are interlocked with different segments of the night sky. As these gears rotate, they move their specific segments of sky around, which is why the stars appear to move. Not sure about the planets. Planets have their own gears? How are they connected to the "celestial" gears? Who made these gears? Are gears really more believable than gravity and orbit? Why can't we see them? They must be very large! Are they invisible, perhaps?
Haven't you heard? Apparently God plays with tinker toys.