Proposed a heliocentric (Sun-centered) solar system to replace the geocentric (Earth-centered) system of Ptolemy. Was right about order of planets and distance from Sun. But was wrong about shape and mechanism of orbits.
| Nationality: | Polish |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | Between 1503 and 1514 (age: between 30 and 41) |
| Published: | Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543) |
Developed three laws of planetary motion–Orbits are ellipses with Sun at one focus; Distance from Sun is proportional to orbital period; A planetsweeps outequal areas in equal times. Explainedretrogrademotion of planets.
| Nationality: | German |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | 1605 (age: 34) |
| Published: | New Astronomy (1609) & Harmony of the Worlds (1619) |
Created one law of gravity (proportional to mass of bodies and square of distance) and three laws of motion–Inertia at rest and in motion; Force equals mass times acceleration; Equal and opposite actions). Invented calculus to make computations.
| Nationality: | British |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | 1666 (age: 24) |
| Published: | Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) |
Author of Special Relativity and General Relativity–Speed of light constant; Time, motion, mass, size all relative; Gravity and acceleration equivalent; Mass curves space and time. Created famous equation relating energy, mass, speed of light: E = m × c².
| Nationality: | German |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | 1907 (age: 28) |
| Published: | Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies [Special Relativity] (1905) & Foundation of the General Theory(1916) |
Least known of giants. Found position of Sun in Milky Way galaxy (in one of spiral arms near edge of the Galaxy). Thought Galaxy is ten times larger than believed at the time. But over-stated distance from Sun to center by two-thirds.
| Nationality: | American |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | 1915 (age: 30) |
| Published: | Globular Clusters and the Structure(1918) |
Determined location of Milky Way in Universe. Spiral nebula actually other galaxies outside of Milky Way. Found other galaxies move away from our Galaxy proportional to distance. But grossly under-estimated distances to other galaxies.
| Nationality: | American |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | 1925 (age: 35) |
| Published: | Cepheids in Spiral Nebulae(1925) & Relation between Distance(1929) |
Father of the Plasma Universe–orphan of the astrophysical elite. His ideas reached from his laboratory to Earth's magnetosphere, to the Sun (sun-spots, solar flares, solarwind, cosmic rays), to the Milky Way galaxy, and to the entire (Plasma) Universe.
| Nationality: | Swedish |
|---|---|
| Epiphany: | 1939 (age: 31) |
| Published: | Theory of Magnetic Storms(1939); Electricity in Space (1948); Cosmic Electrodynamics (1963); Cosmic Plasma (1981) |