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originally posted by: Sinter Klaas
How far would you go, with this instrument as technological advanced possible. Incorrect theories account for the imperfections of the mechanism.
At this point the Greek where already aware that the Sun was going around the Earth right ?
originally posted by: Harte
The first thing they would need is a theory of Heliocentrism, which the certainly did not have and almost certainly could never have had, since the Sun, the Moon and planets obviously circled around the Earth.
Armed with heliocentricity, they could have established reasonable estimates of the orbits of visible planets using the same means they were using to plot their positions in the sky - good eyeballs and standard positioning equipment.
Copernicus figured out how retrograde motion worked.
But, the fact that this idea was taboo for the longest made this science certainly not easier.
originally posted by: Phage
Copernicus figured out how retrograde motion worked.
But, the fact that this idea was taboo for the longest made this science certainly not easier.
But, while heliocentrism did go against the religious grain, It had actually been around for quite a while. But the trouble with it is that it is so very counter intuitive. How can the Earth move? I can't feel it move? And very difficult to prove. That is, until Galileo saw that Venus exhibited phases like the Moon. That's pretty hard to explain with a geocentric model.
originally posted by: Hanslune
originally posted by: Phage
Copernicus figured out how retrograde motion worked.
But, the fact that this idea was taboo for the longest made this science certainly not easier.
But, while heliocentrism did go against the religious grain, It had actually been around for quite a while. But the trouble with it is that it is so very counter intuitive. How can the Earth move? I can't feel it move? And very difficult to prove. That is, until Galileo saw that Venus exhibited phases like the Moon. That's pretty hard to explain with a geocentric model.
True and to see Venus would require technology, in this case a telescope to determine. So what capacity in lenses did the early civs have?
My first impression is that they had none at all.
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Just one more question at what point had mathematics advanced enough that an elliptical orbit could be calculated?
originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: Hanslune
Too bad the majority of Pythagoras' work was destroyed.
"There's music int he spheres"
originally posted by: Harte
originally posted by: Hanslune
First off I don't have the math(s) ability to answer this question myself so if I could call upon the many gifted posters here to answer it.
One see's claims that the ancient knew the orbits of the inner (and outer) planets.
So what instruments, mathematics and skills would be required to obtain that information? The Europeans and others seemed to have worked on this problem for centuries until they resolved it.
So having placed the question I back away and hope that those more gifted by Saint Hubertus can answer it.
The first thing they would need is a theory of Heliocentrism, which the certainly did not have and almost certainly could never have had, since the Sun, the Moon and planets obviously circled around the Earth.
Armed with heliocentricity, they could have established reasonable estimates of the orbits of visible planets using the same means they were using to plot their positions in the sky - good eyeballs and standard positioning equipment. They had the former, and they built the latter (stone circles, the edges of ziggurats, etc.) However, they could not have begun to do this without having the concept that these bodies orbited the Sun.
This is why Europeans had the various layers of "crystal spheres" turning around the Earth for so many years, with the planets turning little circles on their individual spheres; until moons were observed to be going around Jupiter.
Harte
Man I was hoping someone would say this Great post!
originally posted by: Harte
originally posted by: Hanslune
First off I don't have the math(s) ability to answer this question myself so if I could call upon the many gifted posters here to answer it.
One see's claims that the ancient knew the orbits of the inner (and outer) planets.
So what instruments, mathematics and skills would be required to obtain that information? The Europeans and others seemed to have worked on this problem for centuries until they resolved it.
So having placed the question I back away and hope that those more gifted by Saint Hubertus can answer it.
The first thing they would need is a theory of Heliocentrism, which the certainly did not have and almost certainly could never have had, since the Sun, the Moon and planets obviously circled around the Earth.
Armed with heliocentricity, they could have established reasonable estimates of the orbits of visible planets using the same means they were using to plot their positions in the sky - good eyeballs and standard positioning equipment. They had the former, and they built the latter (stone circles, the edges of ziggurats, etc.) However, they could not have begun to do this without having the concept that these bodies orbited the Sun.
This is why Europeans had the various layers of "crystal spheres" turning around the Earth for so many years, with the planets turning little circles on their individual spheres; until moons were observed to be going around Jupiter.
Harte