Ptolemaic system

E20054

The Ptolemaic system is an ancient geocentric cosmological model that places Earth at the center of the universe with the Sun, Moon, and planets moving around it in complex circular paths.

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Observed surface forms (3)


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf astronomical model
geocentric cosmological model
historical scientific theory
assumes Earth is at the center of the universe
Moon orbits Earth
Sun orbits Earth
fixed stars lie on a celestial sphere
heavenly bodies move in uniform circular motion
planets orbit Earth
universe is finite and closed
basedOn Aristotelian physics
circular motion
characterizedBy complex nested circles
contrastsWith Copernican system
heliocentric model
describedIn Almagest
developedBy Claudius Ptolemaeus
surface form: Claudius Ptolemy
developedIn 2nd century
dominantIn Western astronomy for over 1,000 years
explains retrograde motion of planets
variable brightness of planets
field astronomy
cosmology
hasCentralBody Earth
hasViewOn Earth is motionless
heavens are perfect and unchanging
historicalPeriod Hellenistic period
influenced medieval European astronomy
medieval Islamic astronomy
influencedBy Hipparchus
earlier Greek astronomy
modelsMotionOf Jupiter
Mars
Mercury
Moon
Saturn
Sun
Venus
namedAfter Claudius Ptolemaeus
surface form: Claudius Ptolemy
originatedIn Alexandria, Egypt
surface form: Alexandria
rejectedBy modern astronomy
replacedBy Copernican system
usedFor astrology
calendar calculations
predicting planetary positions
uses deferents
epicycles
equant point

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Islamic astronomy criticized Ptolemaic system
this entity surface form: Ptolemaic equant
Islamic astronomy influencedBy Ptolemaic system
this entity surface form: Ptolemaic astronomy
Galileo affair involves Ptolemaic system
Scientific Revolution opposedDoctrine Ptolemaic system
Epitome Astronomiae Copernicanae opposes Ptolemaic system
this entity surface form: Ptolemaic geocentric system