Historical Models of the Solar System

Made significant improvements to the newly invented telescope.

The planet Galileo studied to prove his theories.

Our current, sun-centered, model of our solar system.

Attempted to measure the relative distances of the sun and moon. Heliocentric supporter.

Believed in a geocentric model. The first to base his theory off of observation.

Planetary orbits are ellipses with the sun at one focus.

Planets move faster in their orbits when closer to the sun.

Realized that circular orbits did not fit current observations.

Relates the distance of a planet from the sun to the time it takes to go once around its orbit.

The previously believed, Earth-centered model of our solar system.

His heliocentric model is considered to be the starting point of accurate solar system models.

Developed a detailed geocentric model that was used by astronomers for the next 14 centuries.