earth revolves in eliptical path?

wasi-uz-zaman

hi , how earlier scientist figure out that earth has elliptical motion rather than circular around sun?

mfb

You can track the relative position of earth and sun relative to stars - the orbital speed depends on our distance to the sun, if that changes the orbit has to be a (true) ellipse.
You can use observations of other planets as well, but that is tricky as those move significantly within a year.

Dr_Morbius

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler%...anetary_motion

Similar Threads for: earth revolves in eliptical path?
Thread	Forum	Replies
Path to be an Earth Science teacher	Academic Guidance	2
what is the path of earth in 4-d space??	Special & General Relativity	4
General Relativity- the Sun revolves around the Earth?	General Physics	75
Why is earth's path is elliptical?	General Astronomy	8
The Sun revolves around the Earth?	Special & General Relativity	12

wasi-uz-zaman	earth revolves in eliptical path? Tweet hi , how earlier scientist figure out that earth has elliptical motion rather than circular around sun?

mfb Recognitions: Homework Help Science Advisor	You can track the relative position of earth and sun relative to stars - the orbital speed depends on our distance to the sun, if that changes the orbit has to be a (true) ellipse. You can use observations of other planets as well, but that is tricky as those move significantly within a year.

Dr_Morbius	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler%...anetary_motion