ASTRO-110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Geocentric Model, Atomism, Anaximander
22 Sep 2020
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Document Summary
Origin of greek science started with thales (ancient greek philosopher) First asked what is the universe made out of? . Ancient greeks relied more on pure thought and intuition than on observations or experimental tests. A model a conceptual representation whose purpose is to explain and predict observed phenomenon. Anaximander, student of thales, suggested that the heavens must form a complete sphere (celestial sphere) around the earth. Guessed earth was a cylinder and not a sphere. Pythagoras, adopted sphere shape for earth around 500 bc. Disproved the theory that columbus discovered the earth was round. Earth"s size was measured relatively accurately in 240 bc. Planets come from the greek word wanderer. Ptolemaic model variation of geocentric model that explains planetary motion. Sometimes they reverse direction apparent retrograde motion. Exhibit apparent retrograde motion for a period of weeks or months. Have planets move around earth on small circles that turned around larger circles.
