The Basic Understanding of the Heliocentric Theory

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   The Heliocentric Theory

Did you know about the heliocentric theory? It is a simple theory that was created a long time ago. According to this theory, the sun is positioned at the center of the solar system, and all other celestial bodies, including Earth, rotate around it. This idea was formulated by prominent scientists such as Aristarchus, Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler over a prolonged period. 

The first evidence of the heliocentric theory is found in the writings of ancient Greek philosopher-scientists. The theory was the opposite of geocentrism, which is that the Earth is at the center of the universe. 

Aristarchus of Samos

The Greek mathematician and astronomer Aristarchus, born in Samos during 310 BC-230 BC, is known for his theories on the heliocentrism of our solar system. He was the first to propose that the Sun was the center of our universe. 

Aristarchus's measurements were that the Moon's diameter was about 0.32 to 0.40 times that of Earth and the Sun's diameter was 6.3 to 7.2 times that of Earth. In reality, the Moon's diameter is 0.27 times that of Earth, and the Sun's diameter is 109 times that of Earth.


                                                               Nicolaus Copernicus 

Nicolaus Copernicus, an astronomer from Poland, introduced this fascinating theory in his book titled "On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies" back in 1543. The book was a groundbreaking work that provided a new perspective on the way we view our solar system, and it has since become a fundamental piece of astronomy literature. It literally altered our solar system view!

One of the significant flaws in his work was his belief that the sun was the center of the universe, rather than just the solar system. Additionally, he failed to understand the reality of elliptical orbits, and as a result, his system required the incorporation of numerous epicycles,  a method also used by Ptolemy.

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