Which systematic error influenced calculated planetary positions from astrolabes using Ptolemaic models?

💡 Explanation

When astrolabes were used to calculate planetary positions, the sum of small errors in the epicycle model used to represent planetary motion in the Ptolemaic system accumulated because each successive approximation further diverged from observation, leading to significant inaccuracy in ephemeris calculations. Therefore accumulated epicycle errors occurred rather than optical, timing, or magnetic deviations, as these are separate sources related to instrument manufacturing or local environmental conditions.

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