History of Astronomy

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History of Astronomy

• Created by Mr. Hemmert
• Robertsdale Elementary
• Fourth Grade

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Objectives

• In this lesson, you will learn about the history
  of Astronomy.
• After we view this presentation, you will create
  a time line of the history of Astronomy.

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Astronomy

• Definition The scientific study of matter in
  outer space, especially the positions,
  dimensions, distribution, motion, composition,
  energy, and evolution of celestial bodies and
  phenomena.

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Aristotle (384-322 BC)
Aristotle believed that Earth was the center of
the universe. He also stated that Earth was made
up of only four elements earth, water, air, and
fire. He thought that the other celestial bodies
such as the Sun, Moon, and stars, were made up of
a fifth element called ether.
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Ptolemy (85-165 AD)

• Ptolemy was a Greek astronomer. He combined his
  ideas with those of Aristotle and created his own
  model of the universe. Like Aristotle, Ptolemy
  also believed that Earth was the center of the
  universe, and all other heavenly bodies circled
  it. This view remained intact for over 1,400
  years until the time of Copernicus.

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Hypatia (370-415 AD)

• Hypatia was an Egyptian math and astronomy
  teacher and is remembered as one of the first
  female astronomers. In addition to teaching math
  and astronomy, Hypatia invented several tools
  relating to astronomy and the Earth sciences

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Copernicus (1473-1543 AD)

• Nicholas Copernicus was a Polish astronomer. He
  was the first scientist to introduce a model of
  the Solar System that centered around the Sun. He
  believed that all the plants, including Earth,
  moved in orbits around the Sun.

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Tycho Brahe (1546-1601 AD)

• Tycho Brahe was a Danish astronomer. He is best
  known for his observations of stars, comets, and
  planets in the night sky. Tycho also build the
  first observatory. Tychos records were later
  used by Kepler to describe the orbits of planets.

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Johan Kepler (1571-1630 AD)

• Johan Kepler was a German astronomer. Kepler used
  Brahes records to show that planetary orbits are
  not circular, but elliptical (or shaped like an
  egg). He was able to prove this theory about
  planetary motion. As a result, he helped prove
  that the Copernican model of the universe was
  correct.

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Galileo Galilei (1564-1642 AD)

• Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer and
  physicist. He was the first scientist to use a
  telescope to study the night sky and Jupiters
  moons. Galileo was also one of the first
  scientists to report that there were craters on
  the Moon and spots on the Sun.

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Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727AD)

• Sir Isaac Newton was an English scientist and
  mathematician. He was one of the most notable
  scholars of his time. Newton developed several
  laws that help us understand the movement of
  objects. As the story goes, Newton was inspired
  to create his theory of gravity after he watched
  an apple fall to the ground.

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Caroline Herschel (1750-1848 AD)

• Caroline Herschel was a German astronomer. She
  and her brother, William Herschel, discovered
  three new nebulae (clouds of space dust) and
  eight comets. She also wrote books on astronomy.

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Assignment

• Now that you have learned about the history of
  astronomy, you will create a time line of
  important events that shaped this branch of
  science.

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Resources

• http//kids.niehs.nih.gov/chicken2.htm
• http//www.nndb.com/people/035/000029945/
• http//pages.prodigy.net/fljustice/hypatia.html
• http//ircamera.as.arizona.edu/NatSci102/NatSci102
  /lectures/copernicus.htm
• http//www.nndb.com/people/559/000024487/
• http//www.nndb.com/people/342/000086084/
• http//www.solarnavigator.net/inventors/galileo_ga
  lilei.htm
• http//www.virtualmuseum.ca/
• http//www.udel.edu/udaily/2010/oct/lemonick
  102009.html/