Oedipus Heliocentric Model

Aristarchus of Samos was not only an astronomer but also a mathematician. He lived between 310–230 B.C. and belonged to the Pythagorean School of Thought (Heath). His mathematical knowledge helped him to discover great advances in the world of astronomy. His writing The Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon is his only surviving text (Aristarchus ‘16). Aristarchus’ description of the solar system was similar to our modern one and this was about 1500 years before Copernicus made his geocentric model (Hawley & Holcomb p.34). Aristarchus made various measurements using eclipses and formed a systemic model. This model would help later scientists to understand the true form of the solar system. Aristarchus formed the geocentric model, an early alternative to the later …show more content…
His peers did not believe the model proposed because, to them, it would mean that the Earth would have to move. The idea of Earth moving went against their senses and physics evidence of their time (Hawley and Holcomb pg. 34). The Greeks believed that stars were located very near to Earth and if the Earth moved then at different times the stars would appear to be closer, brighter and more luminous. Those that did not believe the heliocentric model were more likely to invest in the geocentric model. Throughout history humans have believed themselves to be the highest and best species. During this time Greeks believed that the gods placed the humans on Earth in the center of the universe. Ptolemy, a later philosopher & astronomer, also did not believe the Earth was in motion. He concluded this because he stated that windstorms would constantly sweep across Earth’s surface it if it were moving (Irvine). Even when Copernicus reintroduced the heliocentric model, not all scientists accepted it. They suggested that if the Earth is orbiting the Sun, the stars should shift from our point of view. This is called a parallax