From the beginning of time, human beings have always had a fascination with the solar system. Traditionally, an orrery was a mechanical model including the sun, the earth and its moon. Planets were added as they were discovered. It was used to illustrate the relative positions of all these bodies and how they moved within the solar system.
In earlier times it was believed that the earth was at the center of the solar system and the sun rotated around it. Copernicus challenged this theory and he was later backed up by other astronomers and mathematicians. Galileo used a telescope to examine the skies. He saw the craters of the moon and found that Jupiter had four moons moving around it. His refusal to accept that the sun moved around the earth lead to him being put under house arrest for years.
This sun-centered theory was firmly established by the 1700s. In 1714 George Graham, a clockmaker, made a modern version of the model with the earth going round the sun. A copy of this was made for Charles Boyle by an instrument maker who enjoyed his patronage. He encouraged further work on the model and it was not long before the interest in orreries spread. They began to become more complex, including planets and moons.
The Armagh Observatory is an astronomical research institute that has an interactive project. It allows humans to play the part of moving planets. The scale is accurate and the earth, five planets, two comets and an asteroid are represented. Stainless steel tiles are placed on the ground to represent the orbits and humans jump from one tile to another.
It is obviously impractical to make orreries to scale. Instead rotation rates are made proportional to actual rates by simplifying calculations with logarithms. The most simple forms of orreries are often used in classrooms by teachers. More complex ones are difficult to construct, particularly where moons are included that orbit around the planets as they orbit around the sun.
Many online simulations of orreries are available today. One of these is the electric one at the University of St Andrews. It shows the inner and outer solar systems separately and is easy to use. These orreries are a pleasure to watch as the different bodies whir about all over.
Today highly advanced software applications can be purchased, featuring smooth camera navigation and realistic orbital speeds. One can orbit planets and even land on Mercury, Mars or Venus to explore. All that is needed to use such an application is a device with modern hardware. Interested enthusiasts often experience hours of enjoyment using such applications.
Simple orreries can be very helpful as educational tools. More complex ones are difficult to construct and are still being made by artisans today. Digital applications have made orreries more accessible and they are improving technologically all the time. The fascination of humans with the solar system continues unabated and orreries are like to exist and become more elaborate over time, as our knowledge expands.
In earlier times it was believed that the earth was at the center of the solar system and the sun rotated around it. Copernicus challenged this theory and he was later backed up by other astronomers and mathematicians. Galileo used a telescope to examine the skies. He saw the craters of the moon and found that Jupiter had four moons moving around it. His refusal to accept that the sun moved around the earth lead to him being put under house arrest for years.
This sun-centered theory was firmly established by the 1700s. In 1714 George Graham, a clockmaker, made a modern version of the model with the earth going round the sun. A copy of this was made for Charles Boyle by an instrument maker who enjoyed his patronage. He encouraged further work on the model and it was not long before the interest in orreries spread. They began to become more complex, including planets and moons.
The Armagh Observatory is an astronomical research institute that has an interactive project. It allows humans to play the part of moving planets. The scale is accurate and the earth, five planets, two comets and an asteroid are represented. Stainless steel tiles are placed on the ground to represent the orbits and humans jump from one tile to another.
It is obviously impractical to make orreries to scale. Instead rotation rates are made proportional to actual rates by simplifying calculations with logarithms. The most simple forms of orreries are often used in classrooms by teachers. More complex ones are difficult to construct, particularly where moons are included that orbit around the planets as they orbit around the sun.
Many online simulations of orreries are available today. One of these is the electric one at the University of St Andrews. It shows the inner and outer solar systems separately and is easy to use. These orreries are a pleasure to watch as the different bodies whir about all over.
Today highly advanced software applications can be purchased, featuring smooth camera navigation and realistic orbital speeds. One can orbit planets and even land on Mercury, Mars or Venus to explore. All that is needed to use such an application is a device with modern hardware. Interested enthusiasts often experience hours of enjoyment using such applications.
Simple orreries can be very helpful as educational tools. More complex ones are difficult to construct and are still being made by artisans today. Digital applications have made orreries more accessible and they are improving technologically all the time. The fascination of humans with the solar system continues unabated and orreries are like to exist and become more elaborate over time, as our knowledge expands.
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