When did aristarchus of samos propose his heliocentric model why wasn't it accpted at the time?

Answer 1

It probably was accepted; locally.

There were many philosophers in Greece at the time, and each one was popular in his City.

Greek people were not much bothered by scientific evidence. They usually went along with whoever was the most popular and the most eloquent.

In matters of astronomy, those were Archimedes and Ptolemy.

They were so popular that when Cleanthes (of the Stoics) heard about the teachings of Aristachus, he wanted him banned. (Today, we'd say he wanted to prosecute him for spreading falsehoods).

But we do not know exactly when Aristarchus proposed his model. In fact, the very few writings we have about it come from others (e.g., Archimedes).

This would place the proposal around the year 240 BC.

Answer 2

Aristarchus of Samos proposed his heliocentric model in the 3rd century BCE, around 240 BC. His model suggested that the Earth and other planets revolved around the Sun, with the Earth itself rotating on its axis.

However, Aristarchus' heliocentric model was not widely accepted during his time, and there were several reasons for this:

1. Lack of direct evidence: Aristarchus' heliocentric model was a radical departure from the prevailing geocentric model, which held that the Earth was at the center of the universe and all celestial bodies, including the Sun, orbited around it. Aristarchus' model lacked direct observational evidence to support it, and the apparent motion of the stars and planets seemed to align more closely with the geocentric model.

2. Limited understanding of celestial mechanics: In Aristarchus' time, the understanding of celestial mechanics was not as advanced as it would become in later centuries. The concept of elliptical orbits and gravitational forces, which later helped explain planetary motion in a heliocentric model, had not been developed.

3. Philosophical and religious beliefs: The geocentric model was deeply rooted in ancient philosophical and religious beliefs. The idea of Earth being at the center of the universe was consistent with the notion of humans being the central and most important beings in creation. Aristarchus' heliocentric model challenged this worldview, making it harder for people to accept.

4. Lack of telescopic technology: The heliocentric model gained more support after the invention of the telescope in the 17th century. The telescope allowed astronomers like Galileo Galilei to make more detailed observations of the planets, providing evidence that supported the heliocentric model. However, during Aristarchus' time, telescopic technology was not available, so he could not provide the observational evidence needed to convince others of his model's validity.

As a result of these factors, Aristarchus' heliocentric model was largely ignored and overshadowed by the geocentric model for many centuries. It wasn't until the work of Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century and later advancements in astronomy that the heliocentric model gained wider acceptance and eventually became the prevailing view of the solar system.