Tychonic system

[ tahy-kon-ik ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a model for planetary motion devised by Tycho Brahe in which the earth is stationary and at the center of the planetary system, the sun and moon revolve around the earth, and the other planets revolve around the sun.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tychonic system¹

1670–80; Tychon- (stem of Tycho ( Brahe ), Latinized form of Danish Tyge ) + -ic

Example Sentences

Moreover, it was generally acknowledged that the Tychonic system was incompatible with belief in solid heavenly spheres.

From Literature

Hanging in the balance being held by Astraea, the goddess of justice, are the competing world systems of Tycho Brahe and Copernicus; Riccioli is one of the last major astronomers to insist on the superiority of the Tychonic system.

From Literature

In Riccioli’s version of the Tychonic system Jupiter and Saturn orbit around the Earth, not the sun.

From Literature

But the absurdity of making the whole gigantic system of sun and planets and stars revolve round our insignificant earth was too great to be swallowed by other astronomers after they had once had a taste of the Copernican theory; and accordingly the Tychonic system died a speedy and an easy death at the same time as its inventor.

From Project Gutenberg

The former praised the ingenuity and good faith which it displayed; and Tycho, though he requested him to try to adapt something of the same nature to the Tychonic system, saw the speculative character of his mind, and advised him “to lay a solid foundation for his views by actual observation, and then, by ascending from these, to strive to reach the causes of things.”

From Project Gutenberg