ASTRO 142 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Celestial Spheres, Generalized Forces, Angular Diameter
Document Summary
The earth was considered the center of the universe until the close of the middle ages, where in two centuries, the scientific revolution occurred. Greek philosophers developed sophisticated system of rational thought. Established basic principles of scientific inquiry (identification of cause and effect that made the earth predictable) Possible to understand nature in precise mathematical terms (geometry) Spherical shape and size of the earth was known to the greeks. Aware that the view of constellations changes as one moves north or south. Concluded earth"s surface must be curved because ships with tall masses disappear as they move away from the cost. Deduced the cause of lunar eclipses, realized that the shadow of the earth on the moon was curved. Eratosthenes computed the diameter of the earth by measuring the altitude of the sun in the sky at two different locations on the earth at noon on the summer solstice.
