more problems surfaced facing the geocentric model. In the 16th century, the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus built on the work of earlier scientists and published his heliocentric theory in his book On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies. In this book, he made some radical changes, such as asserting that the stars do not orbit the Earth and declaring that the Earth’s rotation is what makes it appear as if the stars orbit our planet.......
One reason why the geocentric model remained in popularity for so many years is because it did explain many observations made by the early Greeks. For example, the geocentric model explained why things fall toward Earth – gravity – as well why Venus seems to stay the same distance from Earth based on its unchanging brightness. As astronomers saw problems with the geocentric theory, they altered it in order to account for these discrepancies. Another reason why this model remained in popularity so long was because it went along with the Roman Catholic Church’s policy.
As technology advanced, more problems surfaced facing the geocentric model. In the 16th century, the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus built on the work of earlier scientists and published his heliocentric theory in his book On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies. In this book, he made some radical changes, such as asserting that the stars do not orbit the Earth and declaring that the Earth’s rotation is what makes it appear as if the stars orbit our planet.
The irony is that after all the disputes over these different theories, neither one is necessarily correct. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity upset both models. New evidence has also shown that the Solar System’s center of gravity is not the exact center of the Sun. This means that either model is acceptable regardless of the fundamental differences between the theories. Astronomers use both the heliocentric and geocentric models for research depending on which theory makes their calculations easier. It definitely seems as if some things are relative after all.
It was hardly a "team" effort.
Copernicus was the first to put the heliocentric model of the Universe into writing. To him it was a much simpler model and made scientific sense.
Tycho was a firm believer in the geocentric model. His contributions to astronomy were in his accurate star charts and recording the positions of the planets, especially around the time of retrograde motion. Although he did not directly support the heliocentric model, his assistant, Kepler, did.
Kepler used Tycho's chart to formulate his famous Laws of Planetary Motion. These are based on the Sun being at the center of the solar system. He used the orbit of Mars in particular to help devise his laws.
Galileo's contributions were observational. He is given credit for invented the refracting telescope. The one observation that goes along with the heliocentric model is his observations of Jupiter and its moons. He showed all who wanted to look that Jupiter was a center, in that its moons did not orbit around the Earth but around Jupiter. It is hard to believe now, but that was a huge revelation of his time.
Newton used math and physics to explain how Kepler's Laws worked.
