Ancient Astronomers

By Blake0929
  • Eratosthenes calculates Earth's circumference
    240 BCE

    Eratosthenes calculates Earth's circumference

    Eratosthenes works to calculate what the circumference of the Earth is.
  • Claudius Ptolemy creates the (incorrect) geocentric theory of the Universe
    150

    Claudius Ptolemy creates the (incorrect) geocentric theory of the Universe

    Claudius Ptolemy created the theory that the Universe revolved around the Earth. This shaped how people viewed the Universe for well over 1,000 years, though was proven incorrect. However, the principles of objects revolving around other objects is still important today.
  • Nicolaus Copernicus discovers that the Earth orbits around the Sun
    1515

    Nicolaus Copernicus discovers that the Earth orbits around the Sun

    Nicolaus Copernicus disproved the theory that Earth was the center of the Universe, proving that the Sun was at the center of the Solar System and that Earth revolved around the Sun annually, causing seasons.
  • Tycho Brahe proves distant objects are in space, not Earth's atomoshphere
    1572

    Tycho Brahe proves distant objects are in space, not Earth's atomoshphere

    In 1572, while observing the Supernova of 1572, Brahe discovered that what he was seeing was far away, not in Earth's atmosphere like many had previously thought.
  • Johannes Kepler finds that planets move around the Sun in elliptical paths

    Johannes Kepler finds that planets move around the Sun in elliptical paths

    Johannes Kepler finds that planets move in elliptical patterns around the sun, showing that all planets move around the Sun, helping us better understand how seasons happen.
  • Sir Isaac Newton develops Calculus

    Sir Isaac Newton develops Calculus

    Sir Isaac Newton devises Calculus. Calculus has helped an astronomical amount (no pun intended) in the development of sciences of the Earth and Space.
  • Einstein helps with the Manhattan Project

    Einstein helps with the Manhattan Project

    Albert Einstein is a great part of what would become the Manhattan Project, the creation of the first Nuclear weapons, used to help end World War II.