AST101H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ptolemy, Scientific Method
Document Summary
Greek astronomers searched for parallax 2200 years ago. Concluded earth does not orbit which is wrong! Rejected the correct explanation and got a wrong conclusion. Parallax is too tiny to see without a telescope. Parallax was finally detected in 1838, 2000 years after the idea when the telescopes where good enough to see the tiny shift of parallax. The science of astronomy: from observing to understanding. Use the scientific method to understand what we observe. Look for trends as the seasons change the hours of sunlight increases/decreases. Look for exceptions for example, the eclipses do not occur every month. Use common sense it is not supernatural! Greeks developed logical thinking (math, philosophy) 2000+ years ago. The model lets us get into the thing we want to understand. Very important because we can"t physically go into space. Greeks rejected the first explanation of retrograde motion. We observe the sun, moon, planets rising and setting every day.
