A Brief History of Astronomy
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Transcript A Brief History of Astronomy
A Brief History of Astronomy
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GEO
MEANS
EARTH
HELIOS
MEANS
SUN
CENTRIC
MEANS
CENTER
There have been 2 main
thoughts about how the solar
system and universe are set up:
Geocentric System:
Definition:
earth centered model of the universe .
Geocentric System:
The Greeks:
• 4th century BC - Plato and Aristotle wrote about
it.
Geocentric System:
Ptolemy:
’Improved’ the model…to explain zig zag of
objects in night sky.
Put planets/stars going in circles while orbitting.
Heliocentric System:
Definition:
sun centered model of the solar system
Heliocentric System:
Copernicus:
introduced his idea in 1543 - the same year he died
Why do you suppose most
people did not believe
Copernicus’ idea?
FINALLY!!
Evidence that supports the heliocentric model is
discovered by…
…a scientist named GALILEO.
1600’s Italian Astronomer
1st to use a telescope
What is the evidence that was discovered using the
telescope?
1. There were 4 moons orbiting around Jupiter (not
Earth)
2. Venus went through phases like our moon.
Who else helped?
Brahe and Kepler
•
Mathematicians who made observations on the
shape of the planet’s orbits over a 20 year
period.
•
Brahe’s observations and Kepler’s analysis
revealed that the orbits of the planets WERE
NOT PERFECT CIRCLES, but ELLIPSES.