Have you ever looked up at the night sky and thought about how the

stars and planets move? Astronomy, the study of the universe, is one
of the oldest branches of science because people have been
interested in space for thousands of years.

Claudius Ptolemaeus, also known as Ptolemy, was a Greek

astronomer and mathematician who lived long ago, from about 100
to 170 CE. Just like we do today, Ptolemy often stared up at the sky
and wondered about the planets, stars, and Sun.
Based on his observation, mathematical calculations, and studies of
the ideas of other astronomers, Ptolemy came up with a theory, or
idea, about how the universe works and how the planets and stars
move known as the Ptolemaic System.
Galileo disproved Ptolemy's model while using his telescope to
investigate the planets. During his observations he discovered that
the planet Venus goes through phases, just like our moon, which
causes it to appear to change shape.

Galileo realised that this would not be possible under the Ptolemaic
system. This is because the position of Venus, in relation to the Sun
and the Earth, could not possibly explain the different reflections
that would cause phases.

The only way that the phases could be explained was if Venus were
orbiting the Sun instead of the Earth. The apparent differences in the
sun’s diameter
The varying speed of the earth in it’s orbit
The moon’s speed and diameter changes