In ancient times it was believed that all other planets are revolving around Earth including The sun. At that time, Indian astronomer Aryabhatta argued that all planets are moving around sun. Aryabhatta was first to discover this, but world gave this credit to European scientist Nicholaus Copernicus.
Aryabhatta was also the inventor of zero. He also described these things in his book ‘Aryabhatiya’. At that time, India’s famous mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta calculated the Pi value. He says in his book Aryabhatiya “add four to one hundred, multiply by eight and then add sixty-two thousand. The result is approximately the circumferance of a circle of diameter twenty thousand. By this rule the relation of the circumferance to diameter is given”. In other words, 62832/20000=3.146 , correct to four decimal places.
Aryabhatta also scientifically explained about the lunar and solar eclipses. He explained clearly, when moon comes in between The sun and the Earth shadow of the moon falls on Earth then it is solar eclipse. When the moon moves into the earth’s shadow then it is lunar eclipse.
In India there were many scientists, astronomers and mathematicians who made many crucial and important discoveries at that time. Indian Space Research Organisation named it’s first rocket as Aryabhatta to give tribute to the India’s great astronomer and mathematician Aryabhatta. This Aryabhatta rocket was made by Dr Vikram Sarabai and Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
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