COSMOLOGY: where and when did some thinkers first consider
that the it’s the earth that orbits the sun rather than the opposite?
Copernicus – About 1543 he published his theory of a heliocentric solar
system in which the planets orbit the sun, that the earth is a planet which
orbits the sun every year, and turns on its own axis, daily.
He had figured it all out, but no one
believed him.
Galileo – In
1610 he published his acceptance of the Copernicus heliocentric theory based on
his use of the newly invented telescope. (He also investigated and published many
other results from his own investigations: gravity, relativity, the pendulum,
hydrostatics, military compasses and more). He is now considered the father of
the scientific method and modern science. (P22 in my book to see details)
Modern Discoveries – It turns out that the earth is not so supreme compared
to other planets in the solar system. (P 24 in my book to see details)
Yes, that’s us, that tiny dot third
from the left!!
But surely the sun is the most gigantic
star in the universe – not so, it’s just a mediocre star. (P 25 in my book to see details)
More. We are in an ordinary galaxy –the Milky Way which contains about 250 billion stars.
