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1. Introduction to celestial motion
De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, published by Nicolaus Copernicus in 1543, was an important milestone in the history of modern astronomy, marking the establishment of the Copernican model and the collapse of the geocentric model.
In this book, Copernicus proposed a new model of the universe, the "heliocentrism" model, which held that the sun was the center of the universe and that the Earth and other planets orbited the sun. This theory challenged the geocentric model proposed by the ancient Greek philosopher Ptolemy, and gave people a more accurate understanding of the movement of celestial bodies.
The publication of The Theory of the Motion of Celestial Bodies marked the birth of modern astronomy and caused great controversy in the religious and philosophical circles of the time.
Copernicus did not explain the physical mechanisms of this theory in his book, nor did he provide any observational data and experimental evidence, but it was more fully confirmed and refined in subsequent centuries through the efforts of astronomers such as Galileo and Kepler.
The Theory of the Motion of Celestial Bodies was Copernicus' most important work and one of the important milestones of modern astronomy and natural science. In addition to the heliocentric model, the book also covers a lot of knowledge in the fields of astronomy, mathematics and physics, such as the laws of motion of planets, astronomical observation methods, the use of astronomical instruments, astrometry, etc.
Copernicus put forward a series of new concepts and theories in "The Theory of the Movement of Celestial Bodies", such as the elliptical orbit of planets, angle measurement, the rotation of celestial bodies such as the sun, the earth, and planets, and light-years. These concepts and theories had an important impact on the development of astronomy at that time, and also provided many enlightenments and ideas for later astronomers.
In addition, the publication of The Theory of the Movement of Celestial Bodies also marked the rise of scientific thought and experimental methods. Copernicus' theory was not imagined, but was based on observations and experimental data analysis of celestial motions. This positivist idea later became an important feature of natural science, influencing the development of modern science.
II. Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus (19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Polish astronomer, mathematician and physician. He is considered one of the pioneers of modern astronomy and scientific thought.
Copernicus' most famous achievement was the introduction of the "heliocentric theory," in which the Earth and the other planets revolved not around the Earth, but around the Sun. This theory subverted the idea of the centrality of the Earth in the universe at the time, and had a profound impact on later astronomy, physics, and philosophy.
Copernicus was born into a wealthy Polish family and studied and worked in several countries, including Italy, Germany, and Poland. He has a keen interest in astronomy and mathematics, and has made astronomical observations and calculations within his own time and financial resources.
Copernicus' doctrine was not initially widely accepted and failed to become the dominant theory of astronomy even for decades after his death. It wasn't until scientists such as Galileo and Kepler came up with more experimental and observational data that Copernicus' theory was gradually confirmed.
Copernicus' contribution lay not only in heliocentric theory itself, but also in his methods and ideas for scientific research based on experimental and observational data. His book "The Theory of the Movement of Celestial Bodies" had a profound impact on the development of modern science and philosophy, and is known as "the cradle of modern astronomy."
Copernicus's work " The Motion of Celestial Bodies " is considered the foundation work of modern astronomy. His theory broke the ancient astronomical idea that the earth was at the center of the universe, proposed the heliocentric theory, and elaborated the laws of the planets.
Copernicus' theory was recognized by some astronomers, but also caused some controversy. For example, Copernicus believed that the motion of planets was driven by the forces they orbited the sun, but he did not propose a clear theory of mechanics to explain this force.
In addition, Copernicus' theory did not fully explain the motion of the planets, so later astronomers such as Kepler and Newton further refined the theory of celestial mechanics on the basis of Copernicus' theory.
Copernicus was not only an outstanding astronomer, but also a doctor and mathematician. His contributions to the field of medicine include describing the symptoms of viral influenza and proposing treatments. He also studied a variety of mathematical problems, including trigonometric functions, ellipses, and infinite series.
Copernicus' achievements were widely recognized by later generations, and he was hailed as the "father of modern astronomy" and was listed as a member of the Astronomers' Hall of Fame. His book "The Theory of the Movement of Celestial Bodies" has also become a classic in the history of astronomy and has had an important impact on the research of later astronomers.
3. Astronomers Hall of Fame
The Astronomers Hall of Fame is an honorary program dedicated to honoring people who have made outstanding contributions to the field of astronomy. The program was founded in 1971 by the American Astronomical Society and has since been selected by more than 200 prominent astronomers.
Astronomers inducted into the Hall of Fame include historical classics such as Ptolemy, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, etc., as well as prominent figures in modern astronomy such as Hubble, Einstein, Hawking, etc. Their achievements include pioneering new observational techniques, discovering new stars and planets, and proposing new astrophysical theories.
The Astronomers Hall of Fame aims to encourage more people to devote themselves to astronomy research, while also providing a platform to learn about the history and modern development of astronomy. Each year, the American Astronomical Society selects new inductees and holds an award ceremony in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the field of astronomy.
In addition to the Astronomers Hall of Fame, there are many other astronomy honor programs around the world, such as the Nobel Prize in Physics, the Abel Prize, the Bruno Rossi Prize, and others, which recognize people who have made outstanding contributions to the field of astronomy research.
Here are some of the highly respected astronomers: Ptolemy: Ancient Greek astronomer and geographer who came up with the famous geocentric model. Copernicus: Polish astronomer, proposed the heliocentric model, is one of the founders of modern astronomy.
Kepler: German astronomer, proposed the three laws of planetary motion. Galileo: Italian astronomer who used telescopes to observe Jupiter's moons and the lunar surface, supporting Copernicus' heliocentric theory. Newton: British physicist and mathematician who proposed the laws of gravitation and motion, and created classical mechanics.
Fermi: Italian-American astronomer and physicist, a pioneer in atomic and nuclear energy research, making important contributions to the study of stellar nuclear reactions and astrophysics. Larry Salter: American astronomer who proposed the model of the expanding universe and the Big Bang theory.
Stephen Hawking: British astrophysicist and cosmologist who proposed black hole radiation and general relativity, and was an important figure in the field of cosmology. Of course, these are just a few representatives of many astronomers, and many others have made outstanding contributions to the field of astronomy.
IV. Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking (January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018) was a British theoretical physicist and cosmologist who was also a best-selling author and popular science figure.
Hawking has made outstanding achievements in cosmology and black hole research, and is one of the pioneers of interdisciplinary research. His most famous book is A Brief History of Time, which was published in 1988 and became a bestseller and has been translated into more than 40 languages.
Hawking has received several honors and awards during his career, including the Einstein Medal in 1988 and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Hawking was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 20, and as his condition worsened, he gradually lost the ability to speak and act.
However, he did not abandon scientific research and continued to study and communicate through speech synthesizers and handwritten formulas. Hawking's life was made into the film The Theory of Everything, which was released in 2014 and received widespread acclaim and multiple awards.
Hawking's scientific achievements not only had a profound impact in academia, but also gave the public a better understanding of cosmology and physics. His research has advanced our understanding of areas such as the universe, time and black holes, and has sparked interest and enthusiasm for a new generation of scientists.
Stephen Hawking's contributions to scientific research are outstanding, with outstanding achievements in the fields of general relativity, quantum mechanics, and black holes. His theory of "Hawking radiation" has attracted widespread attention and research, and has become one of the important breakthroughs in the study of black holes.
In addition, his popular science works have also popularized scientific knowledge for the public and improved the public's scientific literacy. Stephen Hawking was gradually paralyzed by muscular dystrophy, but with his indomitable will and super wisdom, he continued to speak out in academia and the public sphere.
He has held the positions of Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, Lucas Chair Professor of Mathematics, and has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics and the Royal Society Gold Medal.
Stephen Hawking has a very high status and influence in the scientific community and the public, and he has made indelible contributions to the advancement of science and the improvement of scientific literacy among the public.
V. Galileo
Galileo Galilei was a famous Italian scientist, philosopher and mathematician, known as one of the fathers of modern science.
Galileo was born on February 15, 1564 in the city of Pisa, in the Republic of Pisa. He demonstrated excellent mathematical and engineering skills as a student and later became a mathematician and physicist.
During his lifetime, Galileo proposed many theories and experimental results that subverted the traditional doctrine of the time, the most famous of which was the negation of geocentrism and the study of planetary motion. One of Galileo's most important achievements was the invention of the telescope, which allowed him to observe farther stars and smaller objects.
His observations proved the laws of the planet's motion around the sun and revealed the truth about numerous celestial phenomena. Galileo's achievements and perspectives challenged the church and academia of the time, so he experienced many controversies and dilemmas throughout his life.
In 1632, his book " Dialogue on Two World Systems " was banned by the Church , and he was forced to withdraw his theoretical views. He lived the rest of his life under surveillance, but he remained true to his scientific beliefs until his death in 1642.
Galileo's scientific achievements had a profound impact on later scientists and modern science, pioneering experimental physics and modern astronomy.
Hawking's scientific achievements not only had a profound impact in academia, but also gave the public a better understanding of cosmology and physics. His research has advanced our understanding of areas such as the universe, time and black holes, and has sparked interest and enthusiasm for a new generation of scientists.
Bibliography:
Hawking, S.W. and Penrose, R. (1970). Gravitational collapse and cosmological singularities. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, 314(1519), 529-548.
Kuhn, T.S. (1957). The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of Western Thought. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Gingerich, O. (2004). The Copernican chase and other adventures in astronomical history. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Barker, P. (2009). Harmonic science in classical Greece. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Jarrett Diamond, Tony Pascal. World History (7th Edition), Beijing: Chinese Minmin University Press, 2015.