The Geocentric Model of Our Solar System

The geocentric model of our solar system is now known to be incorrect. This model was based on the ideas of Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) and dominated thinking about celestial bodies for almost 2000 years. It was natural for early observers such as Aristotle to imagine the earth as the centre of the universe as all celestial bodies appear to move across the sky from east to west. Aristotle imagined that the earth was the centre of a series of gigantic spheres on which the sun, moon, and all planets were attached. This model placed the stars on the outer sphere which he called the “firmament of fixed stars”. Within the sphere he arranged other concentric spheres on which the Sun, Moon, and five other known planets orbited the earth.