Transcript ancient astronomy - hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca

ANCIENT
ASTRONOMY
What is Astronomy?
• Astronomy is the science of the stars,
planets and other celestial bodies as well
as the universe as a whole.
• Astronomy stretches back over 6000
years, making it the oldest science by far.
• The development of astronomy has been
intertwined with the development of
civilization through timekeeping,
navigation, religion and curiosity.
Time Keeping
• The 24-hour day is based on the time it takes
the sun to circle the sky.
• The length of a month is from the lunar cycle
(from new moon to full moon and back).
• The calendar year is the cycle of the seasons
(caused by the axial tilt of the Earth).
• Days of the week are named after the seven
naked-eye objects that appear to move among
the constellations: the Sun, the Moon, Mars,
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn.
• Shadows during the day were used to time keep
(sun dial)
Navigation
Seafaring Polynesians 1000BCE
– Use the Sun during the day.
– Use the Stars during night.
• In the Northern Hemisphere: Ursa Major
(Big Dipper) used to find Polaris (the North
Star)
• In the Southern Hemisphere: No bright star
in the Southern Hemisphere equivalent to
Polaris. The Southern Cross constellation
can be used to find South.
Religion
• Babylonians thought that celestial gods ruled the
sky.
• Greeks and Romans adopted those gods.
• Egyptian deity Ra, the Sun God, was swallowed
every evening by Nut, the Sky Goddess.
• Sumerians thought every evening the Sun was
captured by a magical boatman.
• African tribes had a variety of beliefs about the
sky.
• Mayans worshiped the god of Sun, Moon, etc.