From Geocentric to Heliocentric: How Discoveries Are Made

Even though no one has seen it with their own eyes, astronomers 500 and 2000 years ago discovered that the Earth goes around the sun. This book explains how they did it using simple mathematics and spatial imagination, inspiring readers to explore the solar system.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 174 pages
Publication date: 27 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

Has anyone ever seen with their own eyes that the Earth goes around the sun? Even to this day, no one has. However, 500 and even 2000 years ago, some astronomers managed to point out that this is the case. At that time, people's range of activities was strictly confined, the technology and tools used were extremely primitive, and many of the mathematical methods used today had not been developed. How did those astronomers make and verify this discovery?

This book explains this exciting demonstration process. It enables anyone with a basic junior-high-school knowledge of geometry and a certain degree of spatial imagination to understand this and other interesting discoveries in the solar system. By demonstrating this interesting process, the book not only satisfies readers' curiosity using the simplest mathematics but also inspires them to explore the new and unknown world.

The Earth revolves around the sun, a fact that has been known for centuries. However, it was not until the 16th century that astronomers began to understand the mechanics of this celestial dance. Prior to that time, most people believed that the sun revolved around the Earth, a belief that was supported by the Bible.

One of the first astronomers to challenge this belief was Nicolaus Copernicus, a Polish mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 15th century. Copernicus proposed that the Earth revolved around the sun, a theory that was met with opposition from the Catholic Church and other religious authorities. However, Copernicus' theory was eventually accepted by the scientific community, and he is now recognized as one of the most important astronomers in history.

Another astronomer who played a key role in the development of the heliocentric model was Johannes Kepler, a German mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 16th century. Kepler proposed that the planets orbit the sun in elliptical orbits, a theory that was later confirmed by the observations of Galileo Galilei, another Italian astronomer who lived in the 17th century.

Despite the advances in astronomy that have been made since the time of Copernicus and Kepler, there are still some people who do not believe in the heliocentric model. These people often argue that the sun is too large to orbit the Earth, or that the planets are too far away from the sun to be affected by its gravitational pull. However, these arguments are based on outdated beliefs and scientific misconceptions, and they have been debunked by numerous scientific studies.

In conclusion, the Earth revolves around the sun, a fact that has been known for centuries. Astronomers have played a crucial role in developing our understanding of this celestial dance, and their work has helped to shape our modern understanding of the universe. Despite the challenges that they have faced, astronomers have continued to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge, and their discoveries have had a profound impact on our world.

Weight: 296g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811677816
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021