boingboing rssfeedsspamassassintaintorg url httpboingboingnet85507259 date supplied antikythera mechanism recovered sunken ship greece 1900 thought clockwork device calculate orbits celestial bodies new analysis remaining fragments shows wickedcool greeks believed earthcentric universe accounted celestial bodies motions using elaborate models based epicycles body describes circle epicycle around point moves circle around earth mr wright found evidence antikythera mechanism would able reproduce motions sun moon accurately using epicyclic model devised hipparchus planets mercury venus using epicyclic model derived apollonius perga models predate mechanism subsequently incorporated work claudius ptolemy second century ad device modelled motions sun moon mercury venus make much sense upper layer mechanism built lost extra gears could modelled motions three planets known timemars jupiter saturn words device may able predict positions known celestial bodies given date respectable degree accuracy using bronze pointers circular dial constellations zodiac running round edge link1 discuss2 _thanks mark_ 1 httpwwweconomistcomdisplaystorycfmstory_id1337165 2 httpwwwquicktopiccomboinghukw9aaqcsfibh tue 01 oct 2002 080032 0000 2000 year old greek computer reinterpreted