Timeline of Solar System

  • 140

    Greek astronomer Claudius Ptolemy proposed the first solar system model known as the geocentric theory. Which features the earth in the middle of the solar system.

  • Period: 1473 to 1543

    The geocentric was disproved although it lasted a long time by Nicolaus Copernicus. It was replaced with a new theory known as the heliocentric theory which features the Sun in the middle of the solar system.

  • Period: 1531 to

    Edmund Halley discovered comets that orbits the earth he reasoned that the 4 comets came back every 76 years.

  • Period: 1564 to

    Galileo Galilei mad significantly improved the solar system model to the telescope and discovered the earth could not be orbited.

  • Johannes Kepler found out that Mars and Venus appeared at different times which meant it was impossible for it to orbit in circles.

  • Isaac Newton created a model most similar to Keplers but proved why the planets orbiting are called ellipses and why the revolutions have changed.

  • William Herschel discovered Uranus while surveying the stars with a telescope. He also discovered the two moons of Uranus.

  • French astronomer Leo Verrier discovered neptune

  • Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto the first object found in Kuiper Belt.

  • Voyager 1 and 2 are launched by NASA to study the outer solar system.