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Dr Robert A. Hatch - University of Florida
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| THe planetary model of Claudius Ptolemy (fl. 140 AD) was one of the most influential scientific (yes, scientific) theories in the history of science. The illustration below help to demonstrate the genius, simplicity, and elegance of the Ptolemaic model. Here the reader should recognize that Ptolemy (and subsequent astronomers) tended to think of each planet having a separate geometrical device. To be sure, there were similarities between the various models for each planet. But perhaps significantly, Ptolemy might well have ignored the challenge of drawing a complete picture of his planetary model, that is, putting all of the planets into one unified scheme. Arguably, there was no such thing as a Ptolemaic System. It was an ad hoc model, a planetary scheme or calculating device. Be that as it may, the lack of a systematic, unifying structure to the overall motions of the planets became a principal argument against Ptolemy in the century following Copernicus' heliocentric suggestion. To appreciate the genius and complexity of Ptolemy's model, I supply the following Clicks. Enjoy. |
| Early Representations of the Ptolemaic Model |
| Post-Copernican Representations of the Ptolemaic Model |
| Modern Diagrams of the Elements of Ptolemaic Astronomy |
rah.jan.99
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Copyright 1998 - Dr Robert A. Hatch - All Rights Reserved