Which astronomer is credited with discovering elliptical (egg-shaped) orbits around the sun?

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Multiple Choice

Which astronomer is credited with discovering elliptical (egg-shaped) orbits around the sun?

Central idea: planetary orbits are ellipses, with the Sun at one focus, not perfect circles. Johannes Kepler established this by analyzing Tycho Brahe’s precise observations of Mars and other planets, showing that their paths are elliptical rather than circular. This explains why planets speed up near the Sun and slow down when farther away, since they move faster when closer to the Sun. Kepler’s insight, drawn from meticulous data, marks a major shift from earlier models that assumed circular orbits and from geocentric ideas, providing the correct geometric description of planetary motion.

Central idea: planetary orbits are ellipses, with the Sun at one focus, not perfect circles. Johannes Kepler established this by analyzing Tycho Brahe’s precise observations of Mars and other planets, showing that their paths are elliptical rather than circular. This explains why planets speed up near the Sun and slow down when farther away, since they move faster when closer to the Sun. Kepler’s insight, drawn from meticulous data, marks a major shift from earlier models that assumed circular orbits and from geocentric ideas, providing the correct geometric description of planetary motion.

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