History of Astronomy - 4015 Words

HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, mythological, and astrological practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with public and governmental astronomy, and not completely disentangled from it until a few centuries ago in the Western World . In some cultures astronomical data was used for astrological prognostication. Ancient astronomers were able to differentiate between stars and planets, as stars remain relatively fixed over the centuries while planets will move an appreciable amount during a comparatively short time. Early history Early cultures identified celestial objects with†¦show more content†¦The original mechanism is displayed in the Bronze collection of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, accompanied by a replica. India Ancient Indian astrology is based upon sidereal calculation. The sidereal astronomy is based upon the stars and the sidereal period is the time that it takes the object to make one full orbit around the Sun, relative to the stars. It can be traced to the final centuries BC with the Vedanga Jyotisha attributed to Lagadha, one of the circum-Vedic texts, which describes rules for tracking the motions of the Sun and the Moon for the purposes of ritual. After formation of Indo-Greekkingdoms, Indian astronomy was influenced by Hellenistic astronomy (adopting the zodiacal signs or rÄ Ã…›is). Identical numerical computations for lunar cycles have been found to be used in India and in early Babylonian texts.[11] Astronomy was advanced during the Sunga Empire and many star catalogues were produced during this time. The Sunga period is known as the Golden age of astronomy in India. China The astronomy of East Asia began in China. Solar term was completed in Warring States Period. The knowledge of Chinese astronomy was introduced into East Asia. Astronomy in China has a long history. Detailed records of astronomical observations were kept from about the 6th century BC,Show MoreRelatedEver since the beginning of time there have been stars. Not only stars in the sky, but moons,1700 Words   |  7 Pagesstars. Not only stars in the sky, but moons, planets, and even galaxies! Astronomy is defined as the branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. In other words it is the study of space, planets, and stars. Throughout the ages, many people have used astronomy to help them learn about the universe, our own planet, and even make predictions about life itself. Understanding astronomy means understanding where it originated, the different groups/culturesRead MoreEssay on Johannes Kepler1478 Words   |  6 Pagesthe planets as having small spherical orbits called epicycles (â€Å"Astronomy† 2). 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