epicycles
Circles on circles
Epicycles were small circular orbits that ancient astronomers imagined planets following while simultaneously orbiting Earth in larger circles.
This elaborate system explained why planets sometimes appear to move backward against the stars.
The term now serves as shorthand for ad hoc fixes that preserve a flawed theory: Adding more epicycles won't save your hypothesis.
Showing humble respect
- geocentricTreating our planet as center
- PtolemyGreco-Egyptian astronomer, geographer
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
- planetaryOf or relating to worlds
celestial · spheres · cosmology · Aristotelian · crystalline · empyrean · heavens · eccentric
Star-orbiting celestial bodies
- astronomyScience of celestial objects
- KeplerPlanetary motion law formulator
- CopernicusRenaissance astronomer, heliocentrism
- celestialOf the sky above
elliptical · revolution · trajectory · retrograde motion · Mars · opposition · conjunction · zodiac
Makeshift bypass of difficulty
- patchMaterial covering damage
- kludgeAwkward but functional solution
- ad hocFor this purpose specifically
- complexityState of being complicated
convoluted · overcomplication · band-aid · jury-rigged · elaborate · contrivance · inelegant · retrofitting
Old and outdated
- outmodedNo longer in fashion
- supersededReplaced by something newer
- discardedGotten rid of
- abandonedLeft behind completely
disproven · historical · relic · archaic · vestiges · scientific revolution · paradigm shift
deferent
Showing humble respect
- geocentricTreating our planet as center
- PtolemyGreco-Egyptian astronomer, geographer
- retrogradeMoving in reverse direction
planetary · celestial · spheres · cosmology · Aristotelian · crystalline · empyrean · heavens · eccentric · harmonics
planets
Star-orbiting celestial bodies
- astronomyScience of celestial objects
- KeplerPlanetary motion law formulator
- CopernicusRenaissance astronomer, heliocentrism
celestial · elliptical · revolution · trajectory · retrograde motion · Mars · opposition · conjunction · zodiac · ecliptic
workaround
Makeshift bypass of difficulty
- patchMaterial covering damage
- kludgeAwkward but functional solution
- ad hocFor this purpose specifically
complexity · convoluted · overcomplication · band-aid · jury-rigged · elaborate · contrivance · inelegant · retrofitting
antiquated
Old and outdated
- outmodedNo longer in fashion
- supersededReplaced by something newer
- discardedGotten rid of
abandoned · disproven · historical · relic · archaic · vestiges · scientific revolution · paradigm shift
- Astronomy HistoryCopernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Ptolemy
- Greek scienceAristotle, Archimedes, Euclid, Ptolemy, Hippocrates
- ancient astronomystars, deferent, celestial sphere, geocentric, retrograde motion
- Ancient Cosmologycosmic egg, cosmic ocean, world tree, axis mundi, firmament
- Medieval Sciencealchemy, astrology, astronomy, natural philosophy, scholasticism
- Ptolemy's workgeocentric model, Ptolemaic system, star catalog, deferent, planetary motion
epicyclesellipses
Marks indicating omitted text
heliocentric model · Newtonian mechanics · conic sections · gravitational theory · inverse square law
epicyclesfirst principles
Basic truths underlying reasoning
Occam's razor · parsimony · fundamental laws · simple truth · paradigm shift