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240 BCE
Eratosthenes
Eratosthenes is famous for calculating the circumference of Earth. This was huge to astronomy because it was one of the first huge successes in scientific calculation. -
150
Claudius Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy is known for his geocentric model of the universe. Although this model is not accurate, it allowed astronomers to make predictions about planetary positions. -
1543
Nicolaus Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus is known for developing Copernican heliocentrism. This was important to astronomy because it placed the sun at the center of the solar system instead of Earth. At the time this was a new idea, and we now know that it is true. -
Tycho Brahe
Known for creating a model of the solar system called the Tychonic System. This model was important to astronomy because it included the sun revolving around the Earth (geo-heliocentric model). -
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler discovered that the orbit of Mars is in ellipse. This is what led to the two laws of planetary motion. -
Sir Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton is well known for discovering the 3 laws of motion. These laws are the foundation of mechanics, and they give us a lot of information about the universe around us. -
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was one of the most influential scientists of all time. One of his most famous developments in astronomy was the theory of relativity. This theory is important because it changed the human understanding of space, time, and gravity.