|
|
|
Throughout history there have been 4 main theories about the Sun and its relationship to the Earth. The following table briefly outlines these theories.
| The Dimension | Pre-Scientific Conception | Geocentric Conception | Heliocentric Conception | Sidereal Conception |
| Space | Infinitely flat | Earth surrounded by sky. | The Sun at the center of a small universe | Our solar system is one of many in a universe. |
| Celestial objects | Sun, moon, and stars | Sun, moon, planets, stars | Sun, moons, planets, stars | Includes multitudes of objects. |
| Equipment available | Eye, feeling | Eye, brain | Eye, brain, optical telescope | Eye, brain, telescope, photometer, spectrometer, and others. |
| Source of order and motion | Will of the gods | Natural motion | Gravitational forces, electricity | Gravitational forces, electricity, and nuclear force |
- Robert Jastrow, 1989
©Copyright 1998 Elizabeth
Beckett, Holly Bernitt, and Vishwa Chandra.