10 most influencable people in the history of astronomy

**Belgian General** · January 27, 2009, 03:45 AM

Since astronomy seems to be everywhere on these forums these days, I'd like to see a closer look on the progress us humans made the past 30-40 centuries in the field of astronomy. Who would've been the 10 most important people in the field of astronomy? In other words, who's ideas/thoughts on astronomy were so innovative that they changed people's view on astronomy, or a certain aspect of astronomy, for years or centuries ahead? Who made the most important discoveries?
This really could start from Ancient Greece or even further down in time, I really have no idea about the history of astronomy, but eager to know more.

Of course you don't have to discuss 10 people, I'm not that cruel^^

I'd start off with Copernicus, the only one I'm quite sure about because the new heliocentric view he proposed changed alot in astronomy. Right?:p

**Simetrical** · January 27, 2009, 10:13 AM

Number one is Isaac Newton, no question about it. Some other major figures off the top of my head are Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, and Einstein.

**Playfishpaste** · January 27, 2009, 11:26 AM

Einstein did quite a lot for astrophysics rather then documenting things, but I'd still agree. Definitely changed the way we look at it.

Others I'd say that are more recent are Mather and Smoot, Guth, and Charles Bolton. Arguably Hawking too.

**Da Skinna** · January 27, 2009, 11:29 AM

Carl Sagan?

**mrmouth** · January 27, 2009, 01:04 PM

If your only going with 10, Sagan doesnt belong on the list.

Halley?

**ajm317** · January 27, 2009, 01:38 PM

Edwin Hubble.

**Belgian General** · January 31, 2009, 04:38 AM

Why wouldn't Sagan be on the list? Just curious.

**TheKwas** · January 31, 2009, 10:17 AM

Sagan played important roles in NASA's most impressive missions, but so did many, many other great scientists. He also played a huge role in educating the masses in astronomy and even inspiring future astronomers. However, since we're talking the history of astronomy rather than the history of public understanding of astronomy, scientists who provided more theoretical contributions are much more important.

The entire field of Astronomy is built off of theoretical works by Newton, Kepler, Copernicus, Laplace and Lagrange. Whereas most of Sagan's academic work revolved around Venus's atmosphere (I believe?).

**Ludicus** · January 31, 2009, 10:33 AM

Hipparchus
Ptolemy
Copernicus
Tycho Brahe
Johannes Kepler
Galileo Galilei
Isaac Newton
Laplace
Lagrange
Herschel
Galle
Tombaugh

**Primvs Sextvs Loverlord** · February 02, 2009, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by Ludicus

Hipparchus
Ptolemy
Copernicus
Tycho Brahe
Johannes Kepler
Galileo Galilei
Isaac Newton
Laplace
Lagrange
Herschel
Galle
Tombaugh

Many historians make the critical mistake of leaving out the connecting link between the Greeks and the Renaissance astronomers.

Ptolemy
Al-Khwarizmi
Nasir-ud-Din Tusi
Mohammad al-Batani
Copernicus
Tycho Brahe
Johannes Kepler
Galileo Galilei
Isaac Newton
Laplace
Lagrange
Herschel
Galle
Tombaugh

There, fixed.

**Ludicus** · February 02, 2009, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Pashtun Mujahideen Commander

Many historians make the critical mistake of leaving out the connecting link between the Greeks and the Renaissance astronomers.
Al-Khwarizmi
Nasir-ud-Din Tusi
Mohammad al-Batani
There, fixed.

You are absolutely right.

**Trax** · February 01, 2009, 07:43 PM

Tombaugh

????

Replace with Hubble.

**Belgian General** · February 02, 2009, 02:47 AM

Which Herschel do you mean, Ludicus?

**Belgian General** · February 02, 2009, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the great help everyone! I'm happy with the list, it's a good global insight I learned thanks to this : )

**mrmouth** · February 03, 2009, 05:19 PM

I don't think its so much a list that should be made up of who did what first, but who progressed Astronomy along best. I suppose its a fine line, but that's how I see it.

So Newton would be first on my list.