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How did Aristarchus measure the distance of stars?
Location: Surat
Working Principle of the exhibit
The first concept of heliocentric universe was actually developed by Aristrachus of Samos almost 2000 years before Copernicus. The general consensus among Greek astronomers, during that time, was that the universe was geocentric.  In such a scenario, Aristarchus worked on the motion of the Earth and put it into an orbit around the sun.
The only extant work of Aristarchus is on the sizes and ratio of distances of the sun and moon from the Earth.  By means of naked-eye observations, he calculated all such staffs. Though his results were off but his basic geometry and methods were extremely sound. What he lacked in was technology.

Mode of display  
The mechanical exhibit is specially designed to demonstrate Artiarchus’s method for determining the distances of sun and moon from the Earth. Different phases of moon (M) as seen from the Earth (E) has also been demonstrated here.
In comparison to distance from the sun, planets are very small in diameter. So it is very difficult to show the actual angle created by the sun, moon and earth. By using of rotary to reciprocate motion, the mechanism is created in such a way so that it can demonstrate the moon phases in one full rotation. This exhibit is also capable to demonstrate why we see one side of the moon