History of History of AstronomyAstronomyAncients - Ancients - AntiquityAntiquityAmy NelsonAmy Nelson
PHY3901PHY3901
September 13, 2004September 13, 2004
Chinese AstronomyChinese Astronomy
Mankind’s first Mankind’s first astronomical records astronomical records ~3000BC~3000BC
First recorded solar eclipse First recorded solar eclipse -2136BC-2136BC
Ahead of their time Ahead of their time designs for astronomical designs for astronomical instrumentsinstruments
Forecasting solar eclipsesForecasting solar eclipses Devised calendarDevised calendar
12 lunar months12 lunar months 365.25 days365.25 days
The Ecliptic Armillary SphereQing Dynasty
Egyptian AstronomyEgyptian Astronomy In order to maintain power, In order to maintain power,
pharaohs and priests used pharaohs and priests used astronomy to predict the astronomy to predict the annual flooding of the Nileannual flooding of the Nile
This yearly flooding was This yearly flooding was imperative to survival in the imperative to survival in the dry African desertdry African desert
Early astronomers discovered Early astronomers discovered the flooding coincided with the flooding coincided with the rise of Siriusthe rise of Sirius
25 days after the summer 25 days after the summer solsticesolstice
Egyptian AstronomyEgyptian Astronomy
2000BC Amenhotep wrote a 2000BC Amenhotep wrote a catalog of starscatalog of stars
5 constellations recorded along 5 constellations recorded along with 36 decans.with 36 decans.
Decans were a method of telling Decans were a method of telling time at nighttime at night
Each decan rises 40 minutes later Each decan rises 40 minutes later every nightevery night
18 of these decans are used for 18 of these decans are used for telling time at nighttelling time at night
Only 12 are visible due to dusk and Only 12 are visible due to dusk and dawn lightsdawn lights
Egyptians believed that many Egyptians believed that many of the stars and planets were of the stars and planets were actually the gods and actually the gods and goddesses they worshippedgoddesses they worshipped
Ra- the sun god traveled in his Ra- the sun god traveled in his chariot across the sky each chariot across the sky each dayday
Nut- the sky goddess was the Nut- the sky goddess was the actual sky and all the stars actual sky and all the stars were her children. were her children.
Pyramids were aligned Pyramids were aligned precisely with Ursa Major and precisely with Ursa Major and Orion.Orion.
These were believed to be the These were believed to be the most holy of starsmost holy of stars
In order for the deceased to In order for the deceased to be reincarnated, they had to be reincarnated, they had to reach this destination from reach this destination from their place of burial. their place of burial.
Elaborate ceremonies were Elaborate ceremonies were held called Pedj Shes or the held called Pedj Shes or the “stretching of the cord” before “stretching of the cord” before each pyramid was built each pyramid was built
Egyptian AstronomyEgyptian Astronomy
Babylonian AstronomyBabylonian Astronomy
One of the first cultures to base astronomy on One of the first cultures to base astronomy on mathematical theorymathematical theory
Development of astronomy as a science due Development of astronomy as a science due to inconsistency of lunar months with solar to inconsistency of lunar months with solar yearsyears New calendar evenly distributed the months so New calendar evenly distributed the months so
there were not days left over at the end of the there were not days left over at the end of the yearyear
Earliest records date back to ~ 1800BCEarliest records date back to ~ 1800BC Had names for several constellationsHad names for several constellations
Many of today’s constellations are simply Greek Many of today’s constellations are simply Greek and Latin translations of the Babylonian namesand Latin translations of the Babylonian names
Babylonian AstronomyBabylonian Astronomy
Eclipses recorded onto a tablet circa 518 and 465 BCEclipses recorded onto a tablet circa 518 and 465 BCMentions the death of King XerxesMentions the death of King Xerxes
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
Became a scienceBecame a science Based on geometry and mathematics, not Based on geometry and mathematics, not
physicsphysics Many new theories emerged from some Many new theories emerged from some
rather famous namesrather famous names
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
PythagorasPythagoras ~500BC~500BC Recognized the earth Recognized the earth
was sphericalwas spherical Found that the moon Found that the moon
was inclined to the was inclined to the EquatorEquator
Discovered Venus is Discovered Venus is both the morning and both the morning and the evening starthe evening star
Most famous for his Most famous for his theorem theorem
c²= a²+b²c²= a²+b²This theorem became This theorem became
an integral tool for an integral tool for the measurement of the measurement of starsstars
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
EuxodusEuxodus ~370BC~370BC Developed Developed
mechanical system mechanical system to explain the to explain the motion of the motion of the planetsplanets
AristotleAristotle ~300BC~300BC Geocentric theoryGeocentric theory
HipparchusHipparchus ~140BC~140BC Divided stars into Divided stars into
groups of apparent groups of apparent brightnessbrightness
This system of This system of magnitude of magnitude of brightness is still used brightness is still used todaytoday
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
PtolemyPtolemy ~127-41AD~127-41AD EpicyclesEpicycles
Small circular motion in a Small circular motion in a larger circular motion, or larger circular motion, or deferentdeferent
Explained retrogradeExplained retrograde AlmagestAlmagest
Source of all Greek and Source of all Greek and Roman advances of the timeRoman advances of the time
Geocentric believerGeocentric believer Ptolemaic theory stood Ptolemaic theory stood
for 1500 years, the for 1500 years, the Renaissance (you’ll have Renaissance (you’ll have to wait till next time for to wait till next time for the exciting heliocentric the exciting heliocentric theory!)theory!)
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
Aries- Roman god of WarAries- Roman god of War
Andromeda- daughter of Andromeda- daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Taken by Poseidon. Mother Taken by Poseidon. Mother of Perseusof Perseus
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
Cassiopeia- Queen of Cassiopeia- Queen of Ethiopia who claimed she Ethiopia who claimed she was as beautiful as the was as beautiful as the NereidsNereids
Draco- first lawgiver in Draco- first lawgiver in ancient Greeceancient Greece
Greek and Roman AstronomyGreek and Roman Astronomy
Orion- Greek Orion- Greek HunterHunter
Pegasus- winged Pegasus- winged horse of Poseidonhorse of Poseidon
BibliographyBibliography
www.learnwhatsup.comwww.learnwhatsup.com www.egyptology.com/astronomy.htmwww.egyptology.com/astronomy.htm www.spacetoday.orgwww.spacetoday.org www.astronomy.comwww.astronomy.com www.greek-astronomy.comwww.greek-astronomy.com Clagett, Marshall. Clagett, Marshall. Ancient Egyptian Science Volume II.Ancient Egyptian Science Volume II.
American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. 1995.American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia. 1995. Hoskin, Michael. Hoskin, Michael. The Cambridge Illustrated History of The Cambridge Illustrated History of
Astronomy.Astronomy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1997. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 1997. Lockyer, J. Norman. Lockyer, J. Norman. The Dawn of Astronomy.The Dawn of Astronomy. The MIT Press, The MIT Press,
Cambridge. 1964.Cambridge. 1964. O’Neil, W.M. O’Neil, W.M. Early Astronomy From Babylonia to Early Astronomy From Babylonia to
Copernicus.Copernicus. Sydney University Press, Sydney. 1986. Sydney University Press, Sydney. 1986.
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