Theories of Celestial Motion

Theories of celestial motion explain how planets, stars, and other celestial bodies move in the universe. Historically, early ideas included the Earth at the center, with planets and stars orbiting it (geocentrism). Later, the heliocentric model placed the Sun at the center, with planets orbiting it. Newton's laws described gravity's role in planetary motion, while Einstein's theory of relativity refined our understanding of space and time’s influence on celestial paths. These theories help us predict celestial movements accurately, from the orbits of planets to the trajectories of comets and spacecraft.