The Greek philosopher Anaxagoras is one of the notable historical figures. His name has been given to a crater near the North Pole of the Moon.
Living around 2,500 years ago, the philosopher Anaxagoras dedicated much of his time and effort to observing and studying the mysteries of the universe and astronomy. Among the issues that Anaxagoras was interested in was the Moon. He observed the Moon for an extended period and made several conclusions.
Philosopher Anaxagoras believed that the Moon is a rocky body and not a powerful deity.
According to Anaxagoras, the Moon is not very different from Earth. He believed that the Moon is a rocky body and not a powerful deity as the people of ancient Greece believed.
Furthermore, Anaxagoras even believed that there were mountains on the surface of the Moon. He noted that the Moon appears bright at night because it reflects sunlight.
Anaxagoras also explained the phenomenon of the Moon occasionally appearing “pitch black” as being due to the alignment of the Moon, the Sun, and Earth. At that time, the Moon is positioned behind the Earth’s shadow, which is known as a lunar eclipse. The philosopher mentioned that when the Moon, the Sun, and Earth align with the Moon in between, the sky would be dark during the day. This phenomenon is referred to in modern science as a solar eclipse.
With his views that contradicted the religious beliefs and the opinions of the authorities in ancient Greece regarding the Moon and other matters, Anaxagoras was arrested, put on trial, and sentenced to death.
