Geocentric vs Heliocentric Models and Early Astronomers

The fundamental shift in astronomical understanding began with competing models of the universe. The geocentric model placed Earth at the center, while the heliocentric theory positioned the Sun as the central point.

Definition: The geocentric model held that planets, stars, and the Sun revolved in circles around a stationary Earth.

Definition: The heliocentric theory proposed that Earth and other planets revolved around the Sun.

Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish priest in 1515, revolutionized astronomy by proposing the heliocentric model of the solar system.

Highlight: Johannes Kepler advanced our understanding by discovering that planets move in elliptical orbits, with varying speeds depending on their distance from the Sun.

Galileo Galilei made groundbreaking contributions through his improved telescope design and astronomical observations.

Example: Galileo's telescope discoveries included moon craters, Jupiter's moons, and planetary phases, which helped validate the heliocentric theory.