Whose contributions to astronomy explained how planets were held in their orbits?
Johannes Kepler's contributions to astronomy explained how planets were held in their orbits.
The contributions of Johannes Kepler explained how planets are held in their orbits. Kepler developed his three laws of planetary motion, known as Kepler's laws, as a result of meticulously observing the planets' positions and motion over several years. These laws, published in the early 17th century, provided a mathematical description of the motion of planets and revolutionized our understanding of our solar system. They explained that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun, rather than in perfect circles as previously believed, and that the speed of a planet in its orbit is not constant but varies according to its distance from the Sun. Kepler's laws laid the foundation for Isaac Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation, further deepening our understanding of how planets are held in their orbits.
The person who made significant contributions to explaining how planets are held in their orbits is Sir Isaac Newton. Newton's laws of motion and his law of universal gravitation were instrumental in understanding the mechanics of planetary motion.
To determine the answer to this question yourself, you could start by researching the history of astronomy and the understanding of planetary motion. Look for major figures and scientific breakthroughs related to this topic. In your research, you would come across Isaac Newton and his groundbreaking work in the field of physics and astronomy.