Hipparchus : Greek Astronomer, Geographer, and Mathematician

Hipparchus of Nicaea was a Greek Mathematician, Astronomer, Geographer from 190 BC.

He is considered the founder of trigonometry. He is also famous for his incidental discovery of the precession of the equinoxes.

He used to work on astrology and is also considered as the greatest ancient astronomical observer.

He created the first-ever model for the motion of the Sun and Moon. He has developed a method to predict solar eclipses.

He even measured the Earth’s precession. He even star catalog the starsThis has inspired many other astronomers to do the same.

He was the first who wrote the trigonometric tables, and many of spherical trigonometry problems were solved by him. He invented the armillary sphere and the astrolabe.

Hipparchus Books

The most famous books written by Hipparchus are:

1. The geographical fragments
2. On Sizes and Distances

Contributions of Hipparchus in Mathematics

Hipparchus was the first mathematician who has calculated the heliocentric system.

Interesting facts about Hipparchus

• Hipparchus is the first person who has developed the table for solving the angles and lengths of the triangle.
• Hipparchus calculated 103,049 compound propositions which were made by ten simple propositions.
• He has created many devices for astronomical observations and calculations, like the armillary sphere, the gnomon, the astrolabe.
• The first to the person who proved that the stereographic projection is conformal was him.
• He has written more than fourteen books on mathematics, astronomy, trigonometry, and many other subjects.

Awards and Rewards under the name of Hipparchus

Few of the awards under his name:

• Hipparchus cycle, an astronomical cycle he created which was later named under him.
• Hipparchus (lunar crater), a lunar crater named in his honor.
• Hipparchus (Martian crater), a crater on Mars named in his honor.
• 4000 Hipparchus, an asteroid named in his honor.
• Hipparcos, an astrometry space mission named in his honor

Other Mathematicians Talking about Hipparchus.

Many Mathematicians like Ptolemy, Lucio Russo, Bo. C Klintberg has spoken about his work.