Eudoxus

Eudoxus was an ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer known for developing a sophisticated model to explain planetary motion. He proposed that planets move in small, circular paths called epicycles, which themselves move along larger circles called deferents. This system allowed him to account for observed planetary movements and retrogrades without implying that Earth was at the universe's center. Eudoxus' work significantly contributed to the development of early astronomy and laid groundwork for future theories by attempting to describe complex celestial motions with geometric models.