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The Copernican Revolution
Astronomy
21
Astronomy
Undergraduate 1
02/03/2011

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Term
retrograde motion
Definition
backward loops
Term
epicycle
Definition
a small circle whose center moved uniformly around Earth on a second and larger circle
Term
deferent
Definition
a construct of the geocentric model of the solar system which was needed to explain observed planetary motions
Term
geocentric model
Definition
the observed motions of the planets made it impossible to assume that they moved on a simple circular paths around Earth
Term
The full Ptolemaic required
Definition
a series of no fewer than 80 distinct circles
Term
heliocentric
Definition
sun-centered
Term
Copernican
Definition
Nicolas Copernicus
Term
Tycho maintained meticulous and accurate records of
Definition
stars, planets, and other noteworthy celestial events
Term
Kepler determined
Definition
the shape of each planet's orbit by triangulation from Tycho Brahe
Term
The orbital paths of the planets are
Definition
elliptical, with the Sun at focus
Term
ellipse
Definition
a flattened circle
Term
focus
Definition
one of two special points within an ellipse, whose separation from each other indicates the eccentricity
Term
an imaginary line connecting the Sun to any planet
Definition
sweeps out equal areas of the ellipse in equal intervals of time
Term
Perihelion
Definition
the coolest approach to the Sun of any object in orbit about it
Term
Aphelion
Definition
the point on the elliptical path of an object in orbit about the Sun that is most distant from the Sun
Term
The square of a planet's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its
Definition
semimajor axis
Term
astronomical unit
Definition
essentially the average distance between Earth and the Sun
Term
Newton
Definition
invented Calculus
Term
center of mass
Definition
the "average" position of all the matter making up the two bodies
Term
escape speed
Definition
attain enough speed to escape our planet's gravity and move away from Earth forever
Term
Kepler's 3rd law
Definition
orbital and distance; The square of a planet’s orbital period (measured in years) is equal to the cube of its semi-major axis (average distance from the Sun) measured in A.U.
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