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← HistoryWhich mechanism limited the accuracy of planetary positions projected by pre-17th-century astrolabes?
A)Mechanical gear train backlash
B)Thermal expansion of metal
C)Inaccurate star coordinate tables✓
D)Air resistance on moving parts
💡 Explanation
Astrolabe accuracy depended significantly on the precision of star catalogs; Ephemeris error occurred because planetary models and star positions in available hand-copied tables were often imprecise. Therefore the calculated planet's position suffered, rather than mechanical issues or environmental effects.
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