1. History of Astronomy Ch. 1 + 2

2. Early Civilizations Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese – All had some general interpretations of the Universe – Played a large factor in Religious Beliefs

3. Chinese 1400 BC- Present Created constellations based upon mythical animals Constellations- an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere Used stars to track time Kept detailed records of the heavens – Recorded a Supernova in 1054 Lit up the sky day and night for weeks

4. Chinese Star Map

5. Chinese Constellations

6. Greek/Romans 400 BC- 300 AD Named the planets after their gods Defined European Constellations First groups to try and learn our place in the Universe

7. Greco-Roman Constellations

8. Mayans (1000 AD) Used astronomy to predict future Created astronomical calendars – Very precise understanding of time through the tracking of the stars

9. Temples Designed Around Astronomy

10. Greeks First true astronomers Had actual models of the Universe – Only the solar system Sun, Moon, Earth, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn

11. Plato Aristotle

12. Aristotle (384 – 322 BC) Had a geocentric view of the universe – Geocentric- thought that the Earth was the center of the universe Believed that the universe was governed by geometry – Specifically, all heavenly bodies moved in the perfect shape….the circle

13. Aristarchus (310 – 230 BC) Disagreed with geocentrism – Argued in favor of heliocentrism Heliocentric- the sun is the center of the universe Problems with Heliocentrism 1.Doesn’t feel like we are moving Wouldn’t there be a strong wind? 2.Doesn’t look like we’re moving Why don’t things change distance?

14. Ptolemy (90 -168 AD) Developed the first full model of the universe – Used geocentric model – All objects existed in spheres around the Earth

15. Orbit of Mars (Problem)

16. Epicycle- Mini-circular orbits as a part of a larger deferent Deferent- The larger circular orbit of astronomical bodies

17. Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543) Brought back Heliocentrism – Still believed in circular orbits – Also tried to explain odd circles in each orbit – Public and scholars did not believe him All books were written in Latin No one read Latin

19. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) Felt that circles were nice, but incorrect Proposed elliptical orbits – 3 Laws of Planetary Motion 1.Planetary orbits are elliptical 2.Objects move faster when closer to a large object 3.Speed of orbit changes with the size of the orbit

20. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) Clarified Copernicus’ ideas First to use the telescope to study astronomy – Banned by church for his writings

21. Phases of Venus Craters on the Moon Galilean MoonsSun Spots

22. Isaac Newton (1642-1727) Established three laws of motion Helped to establish orbit rules through math First person to propose gravitational force Created first reflecting telescope – Clearer than lens based telescope