Aristarchus
Ancient Greek Astronomer
Background
I was born in 310BC in Samos Greece. I am an astronomer and mathematician who was mentored and trained in Alexandria by Archimedes and Strato of Lampsacus on the sciences I held. I'm known as one of the early pioneers of astronomy.
My Theory
I determined the sun to be the center of the universe, and was able to correctly place the planets in their correct orderly distance around the sun.
On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon
The picture shows my guesses about the relative sizes of the sun, the Earth, and the moon. also calculated that the sun was about 18 to 20 times farther away from the earth than the moon.
Parallax Theory
My conclusions, although incorrect, were based off of correct geometric principles of parallax. My main failing was incorrect observational data.
My work was often cited by Copernicus, since we both believed in a heliocentric universe.
Major discoveries
My greatest discovery was finding out the earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the son. Unfortunately my theory that the sun was the center of the universe didn't stick, instead the scientific community accepted Ptolemy's theory that the earth was the center of the universe. This set the advance in solar system sciences back hundreds of years.
About me
Email: aristar101@space.com
Website: space.com
Location: Samos Greece
Twitter: @Aristarchus6
Interesting Fact
Back in my day I was recognized as one of only 6 men in the world who were considered to be masters in every subject of mathematics .