Jane Lucas

Jane Lucas
Astronomy 100-Week 4 Lecture

The topics that were covered in class were the following:
Scientific Thinking
Astronomical Observations
Ancient People
Ancient Civilization & Astronomy
Name of Days of the Week
Greek Philosophers & Planetary Motion
Copernicus, Tycho & Kepler
Plato & Aerostotle
Ptolemy
Scientific Theory
In class the lecture was mainly based on Chapter 3 which is “The Science of Astronomy”.  You lectured to us about the ways that different ancient cultures used astronomical observations to help them keep track of time and the seasons of the year. Diagrams and figures were observed and discussed as to aid in teaching us the different sciences and techniques that were used in the ancient times.  
You discussed that scientific thinking involves the same type of trial and error thinking that we use in our everyday lives, but in a carefully organized way.  Our mathematical & scientific heritage originated with the civilization of the Middle East.  
Greeks were the first to make models of nature and that is why we trace modern science to their roots.  The Greeks tried to explain the patterns in nature without resorting to myth or supernatural.
You explained how Eratosthenes measures the Earth and you gave a brief review on his method of measurement.  The first time the Earth was measured was by the Greek.
The most sophisticated model was called the Ptolemaic model.  It has been in use for 1500 years.  The planets go backwards when using the model.  
You explained Keplers three laws of planetary motion.  Copernicus created the Sun-centered model of the solar system that replaced the Ptolemaic model.  Copernicus used perfect circles which was more accurate.  Tycho naked eye observations improved Copernicus’s model.  Kepler used Tycho’s data to develop a model of planetary motion.  
You discussed Plato & Aerostotle where Plato was the teacher and Aerostotle was the student.  
Scientific Theory explains a wide variety of observations using a few general principle that has survived repeated and varied testing.