Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 9/29/2005

Question
I have a question about the ancient astronomical system of  Ptolemy, who lived in the 2nd cent AD and wrote the ‘Almagest'.  I have read many secondary sources regarding his geocentric system of circular orbits, deferents, equants, cycles and epicycles, but have never seen or read anything about how his system could actually be used to predict astronomical events, such as eclipses, planetary locations, equinoxes, phases of the moon, etc.   Can you explain this or direct me to a good source?  

Answer
Hi,
My guess is as good as yours here mike!
But you could try google. it workd wonders if you type in the correct "search string"!
also you can try the eminently nice http://www.britannica.com !
It is a really good repository of knowledge on the web.
some people use "brittannica" as the spelling.
jayen