1. Scientific Models in Astronomy
Patterns: find, explain, predict, and understand

2. Models Tools for thought and imagination
Verbal, graphical, physical, mechanical, analogical, mathematical
Include only most important features (as simple as possible)

3. Scientific Models Explain: Current (and past!) observations
Predict: Future observations
Changeable: To match observations better
Must be able to prove them “wrong” (falsifiable)

4. Scientific Models
Geometry: Shapes and layout (such as circles, spheres, triangles)
Physics: Motions and interactions of physical objects
Aesthetics: simple and pleasing; coherent; connected
Assumptions: Explicit or implicit; should be fewest necessary

5. Information (“Facts”)
We observe “data”; need meaning to become information; models make meaning, result in understanding
Different models can result in different facts from the same data (“model dependent”)
Science is the process of finding meaning in nature

6. Models and Theories
Models can result in basic unification of observations
Models can open up new areas of investigation
Models can reveal connections not seen before
If powerful enough, models can be raised to theories