Hipparchus (c. 190 BC-c. 125 BC)
Hipparchus (Greek: Hipparcos), Greek astronomer, mathematician and geographer, born: 190 B.C., Antigoneia since the year 30 Nicaea (Greek: Nikaia ) when Cisimah gave its name, ancient district Bithynia, (modern-day Iznik) in province Bursa, in modern day Turkey, died: 120 B.C., probably the island of Rhodes. The exact dates of his life are not known for sure, but he is believed to have observed from 162 to 126 B.C. Date of his birth was calculated by J. B. J. Delambre, based on clues in his work. We don't know anything about his youth either. Most of what is known about Hipparchus is from Strabo 's Geographica (Geography), from Pliny the Elder's Naturalis historia (Natural sciences) and from Ptolemy 's Almagest . He probably studied in Alexandria. His main original works are lost. His only preserved work is the Commentary on Aratus , a commentary on a poem by Aratus which describes the constellations and the stars which comprise them. This work contains many measurements of stellar positions. For his accession he holds the place of originator and father of scientific astronomy. He is believed to be the greatest Greek astronomer observer and he is at the same time entitled the greatest astronomer of ancient times, although Cicero still though about Aristarchus of Samos. Some put on this place also | |
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