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The two-sphere model, as a conceptual scheme, organizes a breadth of astronomical data

to construct a coherent idea of how the universe is structured (Kuhn 26). At essence, the model

denotes a central, stationary Earth, surrounded by a sphere of heavenly bodies. This paper will

first discuss Aristotle’s use of elements and motion to create a unified understanding of the

universe. This will lay the foundation for Aristotelian and Ptolemaic explanations of solar and

stellar phenomena, and their effects on Earthly experiences. Regardless of factual correctness,

the two-sphere model is able to accurately describe and predict heavenly phenomena, making it a

strong conceptual scheme.

Aristotle’s conception of the two-sphere model valued uniformity, which was partially

established through his theory of elements (Kuhn 151). The Earth, as distinct from the heavens,

is composed of 4 terrestrial elements- earth, water, air, and fire, while the heavens are composed

of a single element, aether (Kuhn 92; 151). The universe coalesces with the Earthly substances

at the center, causing earth, water, air, and fire to layer in that order to form a central Earth (Kuhn

151). It is because of the natural inclination of terrestrial elements to move to the middle of the

universe that Aristotle explains the geocentricity of the two-sphere model (Kuhn 151).

Furthermore, Aristotle claims that once elements reach their natural position, they do not move

(Kuhn 151). Therefore, without an unnatural force, the elements (and the Earth) will stay put

(Kuhn 151). Even if the elements were pushed out of the universe’s center, the natural

movement of these four elements would bring them back back to their original position1 (Kuhn

151). The pure aether structure of the heavens is diametrically opposed to the terrestrial

elements, because of the heavenly element’s eternal nature (Kuhn 91). The stars, sun, and other

1 Aristotle
backs this with the claim that a rock thrown in the air will return to the Earth because of the natural movement of the
element earth to return to the center of the universe (Kuhn 152).
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bodies are all made of aether, while also being suspended within nested shells, or

homocentric spheres, of the same element (Kuhn 92). As the nature of aether is

unchanging, so are the stars that are made from the element (Kuhn 92). Because

of the characteristics of the elements that compose them, the stars do not change,

nor does the Earth move.

The stars in both the Ptolemaic and Aristotelian models make up the
Figure 1
outer layer of the heavenly sphere, as depicted in Figure 1 (Kuhn 27). The a diagram of the outer sphere
of stars. Directly in the
center, and not pictured, is
sphere rotates from east to west, around a pole that extends from the north to the Earth. The curved lines
along the spheres are the
diurnal movements of the
south pole of the Earth (Kuhn 31). The daily rotations of the stars, with their movement
indicated by arrows. The line
from the top to bottom of the
stars, called diurnal, form paths that parallel the latitudes of sphere is the axis, which
exists though the center of
the sphere, and through the
the earth (Kuhn 27). Therefore, the stars closest to the center of the Earth.

equator travel the longest2 diurnal distances, while those near the poles are

shorter in distance (Kuhn 27). The north star is located almost directly above

the North pole (and the Earth’s axis), meaning that its rotation is the

Figure 2(a) and (b)

a) depicts the diurnal movements of
smallest, almost more analogous to a spin (Kuhn 14). From the perspective
the stars visible from a
northernmost latitude, in which an of Earth, this causes the star to appear stationary. This outer sphere of stars
observer can witness the full diurnal
moment of several stars
b) depicts the diurnal paths of stars also leads to changes in perception of as an observer changes latitude, as
visible from a more southern
latitude. The dark sphere indicates
the movements of the same star depicted in Figure 2 (Kuhn 19). Because the diurnal movements of the
who’s diurnal path is darkened in
(a). This star’s movement appears
to be “setting” as the observer stars are horizontal, an observer moving south would be out of the range of
travels south.

northern stars, while crossing new latitudes with different stars. This

2 in terms of distance traveled

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causes some stars to appear to “rise” as one moves south, while others to be hidden beneath the

horizon (Kuhn 19).

In the two-sphere model, the sun also rotates around the earth, and inside of the outer

sphere of stars (Kuhn 55). Like the stars, the sun rotates on westward (Kuhn 55). While

completing this path, the sun also travels along its ecliptic, a path that moves eastward and at an

angle (Kuhn 37). While the diurnal movement is a daily rotation, the ecliptic is an annual

rotation (Kuhn 56). This creates a spiral-esque movement around the Earth, as the sun both

moves constantly west, while also moving diagonally at an eastward angle.

Because of this eastward movement, the sun completes its diurnal rotation more

slowly than the stars, and is lapped by the stars over the course of a year3 (Kuhn

23). Over time, this causes the sun to be at different positions within the stars at

the same points during the day (Kuhn 22). The gradual shift of the sun eastward Figure 3
This depicts the two-fold motion
of the sun. The circles in black
over the year is also why the sun sets and rises at different positions over the year. are the diurnal movements of the
sun, which occur over the period
of a day. The blue diagonal
Its position relative to the Earth does not reset simply in a day, rather it takes an circle, is the epicycle of the sun
which occurs gradually over a
year The entire rotation of the
entire year for the sun to return to a specified location (Kuhn 56). sun (which would combine these
two movements) would also take
a full year.
One could describe the events of the sun with similar explanations as used

previously for the stars. The solstice, defined as the day during which the sun rises and sets

farthest north, would place itself near the highest diurnal path of stars at the viewpoint of the

observer. Because this star has the greatest distance of its rotation exposed above the horizon

(e.g. Figure 2a), the observer would experience the longest period of daylight between sunrise

and set. Furthermore, this explanation would help illuminate why equinoxes occur on different

3 the sun falls behind about a degree a day (Kuhn 97).

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days at different latitudes. As previously asserted, only certain stars are visible from each

latitude. The amount of a diurnal path visible above the horizon is also dependent on the

latitude of the observer. In this way, the time when the sun is at the highest point at a northern

latitude would be different from a southern latitude. If the difference between latitudes is

significant enough, this would place equinoxes on completely different days.

The success of the two-sphere model is in its nature as a conceptual scheme. Regardless

of its correctness, the two-sphere model presents a simple framework for even a layperson to

explain, describe, and predict phenomena. The ability of scholars to codify a set of astronomical

data into a coherent and persuasive scheme makes the two-sphere model a unique and prolific

construction.
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Works Cited

Kuhn, Thomas S. The Copernican Revolution: Planetary Astronomy in the Development of

Western Thought. Cambridge, Harvard University Press. 1985.