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Mesopotamian Astronomy
In summary, basis of prehistoric
astronomy: Ptolemy
Rising and setting of Sun, Moon, - Further refinements, including epicycles
and stars - calendars Early Astronomy
Constellations
Annual motion of Sun Ancient Greeks:
Motion of planets through zodiac Ptolemaic System
Phases of the Moon - Claudius Ptolemy created a model of the
Eclipses universe that accounted for the movement
of the planets.
Early Ideas of the Heavens - Problem: Mars
- Mars follows a retrograde motion which is
Ancient Greek Astronomy the apparent westward motion of the planets
- Use of models and observations with respect to the stars.
- the first to use a careful and systematic
manner to explain the workings of the Ptolemys Model - Epicycles Included
heavens - Introduced to explain retrograde (westward)
- Limited to the naked eye observations, their motion of planets
idea of using logic and mathematics as tools - The Ptolemaic system was considered the
for investigating nature is still with us today. standard model of the Universe until the
- Used observational data Copernican Revolution.