Part 6/10:
However, determining solar dimensions proved trickier. Despite the common belief that the Sun orbited the Earth, ancient astronomers like Aristarchus postulated that the Earth was, in fact, orbiting around the Sun. This critical shift in paradigm laid the groundwork for future celestial explorations.
Utilizing knowledge about lunar phases, astronomers calculated the distance to the Sun—though early estimates proved erroneous due to the limitations of their observational techniques. Aristarchus's attempts highlighted the constraints imposed by the technology of his time, yet he still managed to spark a revolutionary idea that would ultimately lend credence to the heliocentric model of the universe.