Recalling the IYA 2009 Featured Scientist Eratosthenes

Hi all, In this post we'll pay attention on how Carl Sagan explains the contribution of Eratosthenes..This is such a great video and you are invited to watch this..






And please find below the link to the previous post on IYA 2009 Featured Scientist Eratosthenes
Thanks for watching.

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IYA 2009 Featured Scientist of the Day - Aristarchus of Samos

From today's blog post I'll focus about Aristarchus who was a remarkable astronomer lived during the past.

Aristarchus was a Greek astronomer and mathematician born in the Greek island of Samos. Later ha became an elite personality rendered towards humanity by the Greek locale. He was the first to tell that Earth rotates Sun and not vice versa. Aristarchus lived from 310 B.C. to 250 B.C. His idea about the heliocenticism was believed by nobody nor approved by any means whatsoever during his era. This was because everybody believed what they saw, which was sun rising and setting from either side, whereas Earth seemed to stand still.

Aristarchus's theory was influenced by Pythagorean Philolaus of Kroton. However in his model, he had placed the Sun in the center and other planets of the solar system according to their corresponding order. It's sad I think that Aristarchus's astronomical information was discarded especially due to the other theories by Aristotle and Claudius Ptolemy, who expressed theirs on a geocentric model. This rejection lasted till the era of Copernicus and later Aristarchus's theories were extensively practiced and developed by the Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton. Today, the crater Aristarchus on the Lunar territories is named after Aristarchus in honor of him.


Thus I dedicate the IYA 2009 Astronomy Sri Lanka blog today for the great astronomer Aristarchus of Samos in honor of his outstanding contribution towards astronomy.

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IYA 2009 Featured Scientist of the Day - Heraclitus

Heraclituswas a Greek philosopher who lived during the period of 6th Century B.C. He was able to calculate the diameter of the Sun and concluded it to be one third of a meter. Although he didn't succeed his contributions had been able to inculcate the development of astronomy. Th precise data about the Sun says that the diameter is 1.4 Million Km (870,000 Miles) as per the modern technology-abled data.

However this is what wikipedia has to say about this ancient astronomer.

{ Heraclitus is known for his doctrine of change being central to the universe, and that the Logos is the fundamental order of all. Today, he is famous for his influence on Friedrich Nietzsche by the idea of every moment being its own universe; summarized in his famous quote, "You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you" }



Thus I dedicate the IYA 2009 Astronomy Sri Lanka blog today for the ancient astronomer Heraclitus in honor of his outstanding contribution towards astronomy.

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IYA 2009 Featured Scientist of the Day - Eratosthenes of Cyrene

Today, we will talk about yet another remarkable individual in the history of Astronomy. It's none other than Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Since his outstanding measurements have been so lose to the precise data, Eratosthenes of Cyrene is credited with an acknowledgment of great accuracy.

Eratosthenes of Cyrene was a Greek astronomer, mathematician, poet, athlete, and geographer, thus remaking his name in different careers. Eratosthenes was the first one ever to precisely calculate the circumference of the Earth. It's highly remarkable that he was able to perform this kind of achievement with his great abilities in Mathematics during his era, where he lived from 276 BC to 194 BC. According to his calculations the circumference of the Earth was 24, 856 miles which would be 40,000 Km. As per the latest measurements with advanced technologies, the value of the miles is 24,860 which would be 40,007 Km when converted, leading to a great degree of precision.

This would give you a clear idea how an old age genius was able to perform outstanding calculations some 2250 years ago.


Eratosthenes also made several discoveries and inventions including a system of latitude and longitude, which was based for the development of modern day scale.

Among other achievements of Eratosthenes are the precise calculation of the tilt of the Earth's axis, and world map. It's believed that he might also have accurately calculated the distance from Sub to Earth leading to the concept of lead day.

It should also be mentioned that Eratosthenes was the founder of scientific chronology. He committed himself towards the course of fixing the dates of the chief literary and political events from the conquest of Troy.

Thus I dedicate the IYA 2009 Astronomy Sri Lanka blog today for the genius Eratosthenes of Cyrene in honor of his outstanding contribution towards astronomy.

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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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