Pioneers in Astronomy and Space Exploration

Pioneers in Astronomy and Space Exploration — page 7
CHAPTER 1 EUDOxUS OF CNIDUS Greek mathematician and astrono mer Eudoxus of Cnidus contributed to the identification of constellations and thus to the development of astronomy in ancient Greece He also established the first sophisticated model of planetary motion Eudoxus was born around 395 390 BCE in Cnidus Asia Minor now in Turkey He studied mathematics and medicine and later went to Athens where he took part in philosophical discussions at the famous Academy directed by the philosopher Plato He eventually returned to Cnidus where he became alegislator and continued his research until his death at age 53 In his astronomical works Eudoxus mapped out the constellations and described the phases of fixed stars the dates when they are visible He also discussed the sizes of the Sun Moon and Earth Perhaps Eudoxus s greatest fame stems from his being the first to create a geometric model of the motions of the Sun the Moon and I2