Question

Name the ancient Indian astronomer who said that the planets shine due to reflected sunlight.

Answer 1

• ᴀʀʏᴀʙʜᴀᴛᴛᴀ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ғᴀᴍᴏᴜs ᴀsᴛʀᴏɴᴏᴍᴇʀ ᴏғ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ɪɴᴅɪᴀ. ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴᴇᴛs sʜɪɴᴇ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇғʟᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ sᴜɴʟɪɢʜᴛ.

Answer 2

Answer:

Aryabhata discovered an approximation of pi, 62832/20000 = 3.1416. He also correctly believed that the planets and the Moon shine by reflected sunlight and that the motion of the stars is due to Earth's rotation.

Works written: Aryabhatiya

Profession: Astronomer, Mathematician