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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

IYA 2009 Featured Scientist of the Day - Claudius Ptolemy

IYA 2009 Featured Scientist of the Day - Claudius Ptolemy
In this I'm gonna discuss the service rendered by Claudius Ptolemy for the upheaval of astronomy.

Ptolemy, who lived in Alexandria was a great scientist who had done an immense service to the astronomy. He lived from 90 AD to 168 AD playing the role of mathematician, astronomer, geographer and astrologer.

According to the Ptolemy's theory Earth was at the center of the universe thus leading to his theory ow Geo-centricity. He believed all other objects were around the Earth. He used geometrical sketches and diagrams to prove his fact. He had illustrated that Sun, Moon and other planets were orbiting the Earth, which was on the center. However we have been able to develop new theories today and confirm the accuracy of data related to Solar System and Universe. Although Ptolemy's ideology is no longer accepted, I believe in the fat that he was a great personality who contributed to the realization of the precise universe.

However it should be said that until the collapse of Roma empire, for over 1400 years Ptolemy's idea existed ans accepted without any debate whatsoever.

Thus I dedicate the IYA 2009 Astronomy Sri Lanka blog today for the elite Claudius Ptolemy in honor of his outstanding contribution towards astronomy.

P.S.

It is worth mentioning his 3 valuable contributions to the mankind, being Almagest, Geography, Apotelesmatika (Tetrabiblos in Greek) each of which discussed mathematics, geography and astrology respectively.

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