Final answer:
Ptolemy and Galileo had different views of the solar system because they used different sets of data, with Ptolemy relying on ancient observations and Galileo using improved methods like the telescope to support the heliocentric model.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ptolemy and Galileo had different views about the solar system because they used different sets of data and methods of observation. Ptolemy's geocentric model, which placed the Earth at the center of the universe, was influenced by the observations and philosophy of ancient Greece.
This model was detailed through a complex system that did not offer a unified theory for the movements of celestial bodies, lacking in simplicity and cause-and-effect explanation. On the other hand, Galileo, influenced by the works of Copernicus, adopted the heliocentric hypothesis that placed the Sun at the center of the solar system.
This was not only a shift in scientific perspective but also challenged the prevailing political and religious authorities that held Ptolemy’s views. Galileo's use of improved observational techniques, such as the telescope, provided new data that supported the heliocentric model, differing fundamentally from the ancient data and interpretation that Ptolemy had relied on.