History of Astronomy

By alexandrasoto
  • 2500 BCE

    Completion of Stonehenge

    Stonehenge was created in present-day England to mark the sun rising and setting during the solstices
  • 2296 BCE

    First comet is observed

    The Chinese observed and recorded the first sighting of a comet
  • 2000 BCE

    First lunar eclipse is observed

    The first lunar eclipse is observed in Ur, Mesopotamia
  • 1800 BCE

    Babylonians begin keeping records

    Begin keeping observational records of the sky
  • 1600 BCE

    Zodiac system created

    The zodiac system is created by a group of Chaldean astronomers
  • 384 BCE

    Birth of Aristotle

    Discovered reason for the phases of the moon, along with many other accomplishments in the history of astronomy
  • 300 BCE

    The heliocentric theory is introduced

    The heliocentric theory is introduced by Aristarchus
  • 1 BCE

    Introduction of Christianity

    Birth of Jesus Christ
  • 90

    Birth of Ptolemy

    Ptolemy introduced the geocentric model sometime between 100-170 AD
  • 310

    Birth of Aristarchus of Samos

    Creator of the heliocentric model
  • Apr 18, 1473

    Birth of Copernicus

    Introduced theory that the earth, along with the other planets, circled the sun in perfectly circular orbits
  • Apr 18, 1543

    Copernican system is created

    Also known as Copernican heliocentrism, it was published by Nicolaus Copernicus
  • Apr 18, 1546

    Birth of Tycho Brahe

    Introduced idea that the moon and the sun orbit the earth
  • Apr 18, 1571

    Birth of Kepler

    Founder of the 3 laws of planetary motion along with many other milestones in the history of astronomy

  • Introduction of the ellipse

    Kepler introduces theory that the planets move in ellipses around the sun

  • Kepler creates 3 laws of planetary motion