Astronomy TimelineHow theory develops and changes over time as new technology allows for more accurate observations.

Plato (428-347 B.C) argued that the sphere and the circle were perfect shapes because of their symmetryThe heavens being the creation of the god would have to be “perfect”The heavens were assumed to contain spheres in uniform (constant speed) and perfect, circular motions and earth was the center of motion (Geocentric).

Founded in 283 BC, by 300 B.C. the Library of Alexandria is accepted as the leading center of knowledge, housing more than half a million books (scrolls of parchment or leather and clay tablets). The library of Alexandria held over half a million documents from Assyria, Greece, Persia, Egypt, India and many other nations. Over 100 scholars lived at the Museum full time to perform research, write, lecture or translate and copy documents.http://ehistory.osu.edu/world/articles/ArticleView.cfm?AID=9

280 BC

AristarchusAlexandria Egypt

Introduces a competing theorySuggests the Earth revolvesaround the Sun(heliocentric).However still believes in the idea that all planets are perfect spheresand travel around the sun in perfectcircular orbits and the star are fixedon great celestial spheres .

240 B.C.

Eratosthenes of Cyrene (now Shahhat, Libya)

He measures the circumference of the earth with surprising accuracy.The importance of this is to realize thatThe ancients believed in a spherical earth. However out of the Dark ages and into the middle ages, Western Europe believed that the earth was flat.

140 AD• Ptolemy - Geocentric theoryWrites the Almagest which tells us that

the Western European world has accepted the theory that the

• Earth is the center of the universe.• Stars are fixed on celestial spheres.• All the planets and the celestial

spheres move in perfect circular motion.

140 AD• Ptolemy - Geocentric theoryMost importantly, He tires to explain the

motion of Mars and other planets using epicycles.

415 A.D. The final destruction of the library of

Alexandria, along with the loss of most of the knowledge stored there.

476 - 800 AD

Age of DarknessAn age of very little intellectual advancements due to fall of Roman empire, barbaric intrusions and warfare.

(Ferdinand Magellan 1522 circumnavigates the globe 18 of 237 survive)

1492 Christopher Columbus Sails the ocean blue

1543 • Copernicus

– Writes De Revolutionibus which re introduces the competing theory to the geocentric theory

Heliocentric theory.– Believes the sun to be the center of the

universe• Stars are fixed on celestial spheres.• All the planets and the celestial spheres move in

perfect circular motion.

1543 • CopernicusMost importantly, he introduced a competing idea

for the Motion of Mars.

1551• Leonard Digges

Invents the theodolite and, from the writings of his son, it was possibly used as a telescope. Which would make Leonard the inventor of the first telescope.

1576 (G is 12)

• Thomas Digges– Comments on his father’s writings (1st

telescope?)– Puts the heliocentric model into stars of

infinite space and NOT celestial spheres. To do this, he must have taken astronomical measurements. Did he use the theodolite to study the skies? None of his writings suggest that he did. So neither he or his father is given credit for inventing the telescope.

1577 (G is 13)

Tyco Brahe- Spends 20 years of his life studying and

measuring planetary movements and motion of stars.Observes a comet over a year’s time.Using Parallax, Tyco proves through observation, measurements and mathematics that Thomas Digges was correct.

The stars are NOT fixed on celestial spheres.

1600 (G is 36)

• Johannes Kepler–Uses Tyco’s data to prove that

the planets revolve in elliptical orbits. NOT perfect circular orbits.

1577 - 1600 It is around this time that the geocentricTheory begins to fall apart due to accurateobservations made possible throughimprovements of the tools used to makeastronomical measurements.Stars are no longer fixed on crystal spheres.Planets travel in elliptical orbits and notperfectly circular orbits.

1608 (G is a famous professor at university of Pedua 44)

Hans Lippersheyis officially recorded to have invented the telescope.

1609• Galileo

–Invents a new and improved model of Hans’ telescope

–Introduces a law of motion called inertia

1609• Galileo• Most importantly, the

discovery of the moons orbiting Jupiter proves that the earth is NOT the center around which all objects orbit.

• Galileo was a remarkable man.• After stating that the Sun was the center of our

universe, the church held him under house arrest. He died under house arrest in such great pain from arthritis that even his guards pleaded with their superiors to give them another assignment. Though Galileo recanted his theory and proofs, he continued to study the planets and sun. He died knowing that what he knew to be true was being suppressed and he could do nothing about it. He must have wondered on his death bed,

• “How long before they accept the truth?”

• Good reading resources • Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of

Science, Faith, and Love by Dava Sobel• The Scientists: A History of Science Told

Through the Lives of Its Greatest Inventors.By John Gribbin