P.1 The Solar System

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P.1 The Solar System

The Geocentric Model

Created by Greek astronomer, Ptolemy

Earth in the centre

Planets move in small circles as they orbit the Earth

Planets orbit Earth in circular fashion

Accepted model until 1600s

The Heliocentric Model

Created by Copernicus

Sun in the centre

Planets orbit the Sun in circular fashion

Condemned by Church

Accepted in the 1600s

Galileo's Evidence:

Galileo used a telescope to observe Jupiter's moons

He initially thought they were stars

He realised the 'stars' orbited Jupiter and were moons

This proved Ptolemy's geocentric model wrong; not everything orbited the Earth

Astronomy Today

Different kinds of telescopes are used to detect different kinds of waves

Microwaves and radio waves can also be detected

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