Monthly Archives: January 2019

The Times of Isaac Newton: a Window into the Early Modern Era

Isaac Newton lived from 4 January 1643 until 31 March 1727 (according to the Gregorian Calendar, although it wasn’t used at the time). During his time he was known as a natural philosopher, and his scientific achievements spanned mathematics, physics, and astronomy. His formulation of the laws of motion and gravity (Newtonian, or classical, physics) … Continue reading The Times of Isaac Newton: a Window into the Early Modern Era Continue reading

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Historical Astronomers in Context

For this research assignment, my chosen astronomer is Galileo Galilei! First and foremost, it’s important to note that Galileo Galilei was born on February 15th of 1564 and died on January 8th of 1642. He lived until he was 77. In order to gain a better understanding of Galileo’s life and timeline, I’ll highlight two … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context Continue reading

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Galileo Galilei Birth: 15 February 1564 Death: 8 January 1642 Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, and physicist. Galileo’s work supported the Copernican theory that the Sun was the center of the solar system, not the Earth. He was also heavily involved with telescopes; he built his own and saw that Venus also … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context Continue reading

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A Science Lesson in History (Historical Astronomers in Context)

Isaac Newton was born on January 4 in 1643 in Woolsthorpe, England and died on March 31 in 1727 in Kensington, England. Sir Isaac Newton contributed to the discovery of gravity, the laws of motion and forces. He also clarified the understanding of optics and invented calculus. The first law is that an object in … Continue reading A Science Lesson in History (Historical Astronomers in Context) Continue reading

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564 – January 8, 1642) made great strides with astronomy with his telescope. He showed that many of the heavenly bodies were not perfect as many had thought them to be. He saw that the moon had craters and valleys in it and that the sun had little imperfections in it as … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context Continue reading

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Galileo Galilei: Historical Astronomers in Context

Galileo Galilei: born Feb. 15 1564 ; died Jan. 8 1642 December 1613: Galileo finds evidence that supports the Copernican system of a heliocentric Solar System, saying that the ocean tides increase and decrease according to the rotation of Earth on its axis and Earth’s revolution around the sun. April 12, 1633: Galileo is put … Continue reading Galileo Galilei: Historical Astronomers in Context Continue reading

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Historical Astronomers in Context – Johannes Kepler

Johannes Kepler. (Dec.27.1571 – Nov.15.1630) He was important to astronomy for his revolutionary discovery of laws of planetary motion, and his books Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae. His laws of planetary motion describe how planets orbit around the Sun and the relationship between their period and their orbit length. His works contribute to Newton’s theory … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context – Johannes Kepler Continue reading

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Galileo Galilei (Feb 15, 1564 – Jan 8, 1642) Historical Events During Galileo’s Lifetime: In 1607, Jamestown was founded, becoming the first permanent English colony established in the Americas. Jamestown was established by the Virginia Company of London and was a settlement in the Virginia Colony, which was chartered in 1606. Starting in the early … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context Continue reading

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Johannes Kepler was born in the German town of Weil der Stadt on December 27, 1571. Kepler was one of the most significant astronomers in history. He developed the current heliocentric model of planetary motion using Tycho Brahe’s naked eye observations. Contrasting his previous beliefs, Kepler discovered that planets orbit the sun in ellipses, not … Continue reading Historical Astronomers in Context Continue reading

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Tides and the Limits of Human Understanding

This story begins where so many great ones do (including the unnecessarily long URL of my blog) – by making fun of Bill O’Reilly: Like many people. Bill can’t grasp how the tides operate. And, in his defense, the explanation isn’t exactly obvious to the layperson. As the moon orbits Earth, its gravitational influence produces … Continue reading Tides and the Limits of Human Understanding Continue reading

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