To Infinity and Beyond - The History of Astronomy power point presentation Year 7 Science

1. The History of Astronomy
Lesson Intention:-
To begin to understand
how Astronomy
developed over
time.

2. Success Criteria
-I know what heliocentric and geocentric models are.
-I understand that Science is built up over time
and “facts” change as we discover new things.

3. How scientists ideas about the Solar System have
developed over time.

4. The Hebrews: the Universe was created by God in 6 days,
beginning from a formless void.
The Greeks: Originally there was formless Chaos; this was
followed by gods who brought order to the cosmos and fought
among themselves to control it.
India: Originally there was neither form nor substance; Father Sky
and Mother Earth conceived the gods, who shaped the earth.
Egypt: The Universe is a large rectangular box with Egypt at the
center. The Sun-god Ra rode around the celestial river once a day,
and star lamps were suspended from the top of the box.

5. The Earth and each of the other bodies in the Universe, was
spherical and revolved about a central body.
The Sun was not central but he thought there was a central fire.
Around the fire was ten revolving bodies: the Sun, the Earth,
the Moon, five planets, heaven
with its stars and a newcomer named Antichthon or "the counter-Earth".
The counter-Earth could never be seen by man because it was
always on the opposite side of the central fire.
The light and heat which reached
the Earth from the central fire
were reflected to the Earth
by the Sun.

6. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Pythagorus
Believed the
earth was
spherical
with a
central fire
in the
middle of
the universe
& a counter
earth
(600BC)

7. Believed that the earth was flat and was supported by nothing.
It stayed up due to equilibrium.
The earth did not move. It stayed equidistant in the universe.
The earth is in the center of the universe.
The sun and moon were hollow rings filled with fire.
The are vents or holes in the rings, through which the fire can shine.
The phases of the Moon, as well as eclipses of the sun and the
moon, are due to the vents closing up.
A Greek philosopher; Born: 611 BC, Miletus Turkey
Died: 546 BC

8. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Anaximander
Believed that
the earth was
flat and was in
the center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe &
a counter
earth
(600BC)

9. Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher who proposed that the
Earth was at the centre of the Solar System and that all other
objects orbited around it.
384 BC – 322 BC

10. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Anaximander
Believed that
the earth was
flat and was in
the center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

11. Ptolemy was another ancient Greek philosopher. He noticed that
some of his observations did not fit with Aristotle’s ideas. He
suggested the idea of Epicycles to explain the way some of the
planets moved. He still put Earth at the centre of the Solar System.
150 BC

12. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

13. He was the first scientist to suggest that the SUN was at the
centre of the Solar System. He was also the first scientist to
correctly order the planets.
1473 - 1543

14. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Nicolas
Copernicus
Suggests that the
sun is at the centre
of the Solar System.
(1543 AD)
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

15. Galileo Galilei was an Italian scientist. He did much work on
improving the telescope. This allowed him to see things that other
scientists could not. He was the first person to identify Sunspots.
He also was the first person to see the 4 brightest moons of
Jupiter. He also noticed that our view of Venus changes in the
same way as that of our Moon.
1564 AD – 1642 AD

16. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Nicolas
Copernicus
Suggests that the
sun is at the centre
of the Solar System.
(1543 AD)
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Galileo
Made major
advances in
telescope
design.
(1594 AD)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

17. Johannes Kepler was a German scientist. He proposed three laws
to explain the movement of planets. One of his most important
ideas was that the orbits of planets were not circular. One of his
laws also suggested that planets do not always move at the same
speed. The speed was related to the planets distance from the
Sun. Both of these ideas fit in with current thinking.
1571 AD – 1630 AD

18. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Nicolas
Copernicus
Suggests that the
sun is at the centre
of the Solar System.
(1543 AD)
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Johannes Kepler
He suggests three
laws of planetary
motion and that
orbits are ellipses
and not circles.
(1600 AD)
Galileo
Made major
advances in
telescope
design.
(1594 AD)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

19. Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist who is mainly
remembered for developing the Universal Theory of Gravity. This
theory was able to explain many of Johannes Kepler’s observations
and proved his ideas to be accurate.
1643 AD – 1727 AD

20. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Nicolas
Copernicus
Suggests that the
sun is at the centre
of the Solar System.
(1543 AD)
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Johannes Kepler
He suggests three
laws of planetary
motion and that
orbits are ellipses
and not circles.
(1600 AD)
Galileo
Made major
advances in
telescope
design.
(1594 AD)
Isaac Newton
Suggested the
idea of planetary
gravity.
(1700 AD)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

21. William Herschel was an English scientist who discovered the
planet Uranus by accident. It had been seen by many people before
but had always been thought to be a star. It is not visible from
Earth without the aid of a telescope and this explains why it was
not known to ‘ancient’ civilisations.
1643 AD – 1727 AD

22. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Nicolas
Copernicus
Suggests that the
sun is at the centre
of the Solar System.
(1543 AD)
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Johannes Kepler
He suggests three
laws of planetary
motion and that
orbits are ellipses
and not circles.
(1600 AD)
Galileo
Made major
advances in
telescope
design.
(1594 AD)
Isaac Newton
Suggested the
idea of planetary
gravity.
(1700 AD)
William
Herschel
Discovered
Uranus
(1781 AD)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

23. Edwin Hubble was the man who changed our view of the Universe.
He was the first person to suggest that the universe was
expanding. This idea lead to scientists developing the ‘BIG BANG’
theory for the start of the universe.
1889 AD – 1953 AD

24. 1000BC
2000AD
0
Nicolas
Copernicus
Suggests that the
sun is at the centre
of the Solar System.
(1543 AD)
Aristotle
He suggests that
the Earth is at
the centre of the
solar system.
(approx. 340 BC)
Aristarchus
He suggests the
idea of the Sun at
the centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 200 BC)
Johannes Kepler
He suggests three
laws of planetary
motion and that
orbits are ellipses
and not circles.
(1600 AD)
Galileo
Made major
advances in
telescope
design.
(1594 AD)
Isaac Newton
Suggested the
idea of planetary
gravity.
(1700 AD)
William
Herschel
Discovered
Uranus
(1781 AD)
Edwin
Hubble
Discovered
that the
universe is
expanding.
(1929 AD)
Ptolemy
He suggests
the idea of
epicycles to
suggest how
planets move.
The Earth is
still at the
centre of the
Solar System.
(approx. 150
BC)
Anaximande
r
Believed
that the
earth was
flat and was
in the
center of
the universe
(500BC)
Pythagoru
s
Believed
the earth
was
spherical
with a
central
fire in the
middle of
the
universe
& a
counter
earth
(600BC)

25. • Anaximander’s model (flat earth)
• Pythagoras’s model (Fire of the Gods in the
middle)
• Ptolemy’s model (Geocentric – Earth centred)
• Copernicus’ model (Heliocentric – Sun
centred)
• Kepler’s model (Same as Copernicus except
the orbits are elliptical [egg shaped])

26. Explicit Vocabulary
Students to share their definition of the following words and write the meaning in
their books.
• Heliocentric:-
• Geocentric:-
• Elliptical / Ellipse:-
• Model:-
Are there any other words you would like to share?

27. Review
•Describe how our knowledge of the solar system has been
developed since the Ancient Greeks.