Gourt > Science > Astronomy > History (16)
Astronomy is probably the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with astronomy, and not completely separate from it until about 1750‑1800 in the Western World. Early astronomy involved observing the regular patterns of the motions of visible celestial objects, especially the Sun, Moon, stars and naked eye planets. An example of this early astronomy might involve a study of the changing position of the Sun along the horizon and the changing appearances of stars in the course of the year. In some cultres 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.
Ancient history
Early cultures identifed celestial objects with gods and spirits. They related these objects (and their movements) to phenomena such as rain, drought, seasons, and tides. It is generally believed that the first "professional" astronomers were priests (such as the Magi), and that their understanding of the "heavens" was seen as "divine", hence astronomy's ancient connection to what is now called astrology. Ancient constructions with astronomical alineations (such as Stonehenge) probably fulfilled both astronomical and religious functions. More on [ History of astronomy ]
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Elvis, bin Laden and Hitler Join Mission to Mars
Fri, 09 May 2008 16:02:00 -0400
A Mars spacecraft carrying a DVD of thousands of names was intended to increase public interest in space missions. But the unintended consequence was lasting space memorials to Donald Duck, John Lennon, Adolf Hitler and Malcolm X.
NASA Plots Future Mission — to an Asteroid
Thu, 08 May 2008 13:37:00 -0400
A group of engineers is studying the possibility of having astronauts land on near-Earth objects, better known as asteroids. Rob Landis, who co-wrote a feasibility study, says people have to prepare for living elsewhere.
Why a Space Rock May Fetch $3 Million
Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:42:00 -0400
Marvin Killgore is auctioning off his Fukang meteorite to the highest bidder on Wednesday. Fifty percent nickel iron and 50 percent peridot, the rock weighed more than a ton before it was cut in half.
Rough Soyuz Landing Creates Bumps for NASA
Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:31:00 -0400
NASA is trying to downplay fears that the recent bone-rattling landing of a Russian capsule could mean it is less reliable than thought. Once NASA retires the space shuttle in 2010, the Russian Soyuz will be the only means of getting astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
Lucy's Laugh Enlivens the Solar System
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:09:00 -0400
We make a lot of noise here on Earth with our TV and radio broadcasts, and some of that sound escapes into space. But how far will our signals travel? Can Lucille Ball's laugh be heard across the universe?
Doomsday Fears for a Particle Accelerator
Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:00:00 -0400
Scientists in Geneva are readying the largest particle accelerator ever built. But BPP regular David Morgan says at least two men are suing to stop the accelerator because they fear it will swallow all of planet Earth.
A Brief SETI Chronology - A timeline of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, from Morrison and Coconni to SETI@home.
Meta Description: [ The SETI League, Inc. is a membership-supported, nonprofit [501(c)(3)] educational and scientific organization, devoted to privatizing the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. ]
A Science Odyssey - Physics and Astronomy - PBS articles about 20th century astronomy and physics.
Astronomical References in the Ruba'iyât of Omar Khayyam - Excerpts and commentary with reproductions of some of Elihu Vedder's illustrations.
Astronomy - Features history of discoveries and references.
Astronomy in Japan - Historical and modern Japanese astronomy, and its place in Japanese culture
Astronomy in Sweden 1860-1940 - From the Uppsala University Newsletter for History of Science.
Astronomy in the 18th Century - Discusses the development of reflective telescopes during the 1700's. Covers the different types of mirrors and lens that were used during these times. Includes some key contributors to the improvement of the telescope during this period.
Atlas Celeste - A rare celestial atlas discovered in the library of the Manchester Astronomical Society.
Meta Description: [ Atlas Celeste. The Manchester Astronomical Society have discovered an extremely rare Star Atlas. It was compiled by John Bevis in the mid eighteenth century. It was to be called the Uranographia Britannica. Only 16 copies are known! ]
Biennial History of Astronomy Conferences - Workshops at Notre Dame, papers presented, abstracts, group pictures of attendees.
Big Ear Radio Observatory - Radio astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Meta Description: [ This Kraus-type radio telescope,
larger than three football fields, was famous for the Wow! Signal and
for the longest-running SETI project. ]
Digital Archive of Historical Astronomy Pictures - Images from the history of astronomy, old telescopes, pictures of astronomers, observatories.
Meta Description: [ This website is about the history of astronomy.It contains images from the history of astronomy, old telescopes, pictures of astronomers, and so on. ]
Electronic Newsletter for the History of Astronomy - Complete archive and subscription information.
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Fabri de Peiresc's Quest for a Method to Calculate Terrestrial Longitude - Article by Jane T. Tolbert in the Historian publication in 1999. Whereas Galileo sought to confront and embarrass the established Church, Peiresc worked from within clerical ranks with persuasion and tact.
From Stargazers to Starships - Tutorial/historical exposition of the motion of Earth in space, Newtonian mechanics and spaceflight, on a high school level.
Meta Description: [ Home page and index of tutorial/historical exposition of the motion of Earth in space, Newtonian mechanics and spaceflight, on a high school level. ]
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Gene Smith's Brief History of Astronomy - Covers the development of this ancient science from days of Stonehenge (3100 BC) to the discovery of Pulsars (1968 AD). Includes related resource links.
Meta Description: [ Gene Smith's Astronomy Tutorial - History of Astronomy ]
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Harmonia Macrocosmica by Andreas Cellarius - Atlas of the heavens as seen by the astronomers of the time of its 1661 printing: Copernicus, Ptolemy, Brahe, and Aratus. Entire book has been digitized and the images may be browsed or searched.
HASTRO-L - Archive of the History of Astronomy Discussion Group, the mailing list for scholars in this field.
Heavenly Mathematics: Cultural Astronomy - An interdisciplinary course on cultural astronomy.
Meta Description: [ An interdisciplinary course on cultural astronomy ]
Hindu Cosmological Time Cycles - An accurate calendar and the progenitor of the sexagesimal (base 60) degree, minutes, seconds measurement system.
Meta Description: [ Hindu cosmological time cycles are shown to be the most accurate solar calendar known and progenitor of the sexagesimal number system. ]
Historiacoelestis - Yahoo group moderated by Stuart Williams, F.R.A.S.
Meta Description: [ historiacoelestis: Historia Coelestis ]
Historical Astronomy Division - American Astronomical Society division devoted to history, with a link to pages on the history of the society itself.
History and Philosophy of Western Astronomy - The History chapter of an introductory astronomy course.
History of Astronomy - Offers a history of the field and science. Features links to related sites, awards and contact details. Provided by the Working Group for the History of Astronomy.
Meta Description: [ Information and several thousand links on all
aspects of history of astronomy and related fields:
observatories, people, items, archives and libraries, museums and exhibitions,
publications, research, meetings, societies, historians. ]
History of Astronomy Pages - Frederik Kaiser (1808-1872) and the professionalisation of Dutch astronomy; The Lost Letters of J.C. Kapteyn (1851-1922); Many history of astronomy and history of science links with a Dutch flavour.
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History of SETI - An overview of the history of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence using radio frequencies. Includes photos.
Meta Description: [ SETI Institute - Center for SETI Research ]
Islamic Astronomy - Article by Owen Gingerich explores refinement and criticism of Ptolemaic astronomy, including religious influences on direction, and describes precursors to and influences on Copernicus.
Jewish Astronomy, From Ancient to Modern Times - Astronomy in Israel from Og's Circle to the Wise Observatory.
Little Green Men, White Dwarfs or Pulsars? - A personal account by Jocelyn Bell Burnell on the discovery of pulsars.
MuslimHeritage.com - Astronomy - Articles on astronomers, observatories, work performed and its significance from the ninth to the fifteenth centuries.
Meta Description: [ MuslimHeritage.com - Schools, Colleges and Universities can benefit from textbook quality history content and knowledge that show Muslims as natural pioneers of human civilisation. ]
Northern California History of Astronomy Luncheon and Discussion Association - Announcements of discussions (in Oakland, California), open to the public, on various astronomy history topics, and an archive of past discussions
Meta Description: [ Northern California Historical Astronomy
Luncheon and Discussion Association ]
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Out of This World - Exhibition catalog for The Golden Age of the Celestial Atlas. Includes an historical essay and sample pictures.
Roemer and the First Determination of the Velocity of Light - Burndy Library online publication of 1940 article detailing the background and details of Roemer's work.
Meta Description: [ This is the website of the Burndy Library ]
Rundetaarn (The Round Tower) - Astronomy in Denmark: Brahe, Roemer, Hertzsprung.
Russell A. Hulse - Nobel Lecture - The discovery of the binary pulsar.
Starry Messenger - Phase I of the Electronic History of Astronomy, developed in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science at Trinity College, Cambridge. Covers the history of instruments and techniques, themes such as astrology and calendar reform, and biographies of major historical astronomers.
Telescopes from the Ground Up - The history of telescopes.
The Àryabhatíya of Àryabhata - The oldest exact astronomic constant? The ratio of earth rotations to lunar orbits in Aryabhata's AD 498 writing.
Meta Description: [ A discussion of the oldest known exactive astronomic constant, the ratio of earth rotations to lunar orbits in Aryabhata's AD 498 writing. ]
The Babylonian Theory of the Planets - A substantial look at the subject, and a review of N. M. Swerdlow's book.
Meta Description: [ Read This! --- The MAA Online book
review column: review of The Babylonian Theory of the Planets, by N. M. Swerdlow ]
The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation - Robert Woodrow Wilson Nobel Lecture.
The Manchester Astronomical Society History - The first hundred years, list of presidents, list of archived documents.
The Society For The History Of Astronomy - Academic and popular topics, with a focus on Britain.
The Star of Bethlehem - An investigation of the science and history which bear on the mysterious star said to have accompanied the advent of Christ.
This Month in the History of Astronomy - Short descriptions of important discoveries, events, and birthdays sorted by month.
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Tycho's Star Maps - Celestial atlases and globes on exhibit at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.
Meta Description: [ The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is the largest maritime museum in the world with a collection of over two million objects related to seafaring, navigation, astronomy and measuring time. The NMM incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Queen’s House and its mission is to illustra... ]
Understanding Tidal Friction - Article by Peter Brosche on gaining understanding of changes in the Moon's orbit.
Meta Description: [ Tidal friction, mathematical modelling techniques of ocean tides ]
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X-ray Astronomy at Goddard - Describes observations using balloons, rockets and satellites.
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