An ancient Greek computer could accurately predict the motions of planets and stars 1000 years before its time, even when they appear to be moving backwards in the sky, new research has found.
The Antikythera mechanism was found in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece in the early 20th century.
Archaeologists immediately suspected that it was some kind of astronomical clock, but found that due to its complexity it was originally probably a revival.
Researchers in the second half of the 20th century realized that it was associated with ancient Greece – probably about 100 bbc-200 bb – and that they could accurately detect the motion of the sun and moon, predicting when an eclipse would occur.
No other machine of such complexity that has yet been found was technically lost by the end of the Middle Ages.
It has now been discovered that the Antikythera mechanism also detects the motions of Venus and Saturn – when their orbits, when viewed from Earth, appear to be moving behind the sky.
Until now, no one knew that the ancient Greeks had this kind of astronomical knowledge, let alone how to program it in an analog computer – the researchers were confused.
Ph.D. Candidate and UCL Anticithera research team stated that “excellent astronomy of the first millennium BC originated in Babylon, but nothing in this astronomy suggests how the ancient Greeks discovered the accurate 466-year cycle for Venus and the 2444-year cycle for Saturn.” Member Eris Dacanalis.
Researchers using X-rays found evidence that the fragmentary mechanism mapped the orbits of all the other planets for the ancient Greeks.
David Higgins, a member of the team, said: “After considerable struggle, we were able to find evidence in Fragans A and D with a mechanism for Venus, an exact sample of its 2 466-year planetary period relationship, in which the gear of -63 teeth plays a decisive role. “Team member David Higgins said. .
A.M. Gear diagram of (courtesy of Adler Planetarium, Chicago).
The next step, researchers say, is to create a physical entertainment of the anticathera mechanism – despite modern technology, it will be difficult for them to accept anything.
“A particular challenge will be the system of nested tubes carrying astronomical outputs,” said Adam Wozniak, co-author of the study.
The research was published in the journal Scientific Reports this week.
“Our work unfolds the Antikithera mechanism as a beautiful concept, which is translated by Superb Engineering into a genius device,” he concludes.
“It challenges our hypothesis about the technological capabilities of the ancient Greeks.”
On this day in 1902, the Antikythera mechanism was discovered
