1. Astronomy: A History

3. Early Astronomy Astronomy the oldest of the natural sciences. Astronomy the oldest of the natural sciences. Early cultures identified celestial objects with gods and spirits. They related these objects (and their movements) to phenomena such as rain, drought, seasons, and tides Early cultures identified celestial objects with gods and spirits. They related these objects (and their movements) to phenomena such as rain, drought, seasons, and tidesculturesgodsspiritsraindrought seasonstidesculturesgodsspiritsraindrought seasonstides

4. Astrological Time Calendars of the world have usually been set by the Sun and Moon (measuring the day, month and year), and were of importance to agricultural societies. Calendars of the world have usually been set by the Sun and Moon (measuring the day, month and year), and were of importance to agricultural societies. Calendarsdaymonthyearagricultural Calendarsdaymonthyearagricultural The most common modern calendar is based on the Roman calendar, which divided the year into twelve months of alternating thirty and thirty-one days apiece. The most common modern calendar is based on the Roman calendar, which divided the year into twelve months of alternating thirty and thirty-one days apiece.modern calendarRoman calendarmodern calendarRoman calendar In 46 BC Julius Caesar instigated calendar reform and adopted a calendar based upon the 365 1/4 day year length. In 46 BC Julius Caesar instigated calendar reform and adopted a calendar based upon the 365 1/4 day year length.46 BCJulius Caesarcalendar reform 365 1/4 day year length46 BCJulius Caesarcalendar reform 365 1/4 day year length

5. Mesopotamia The origins of Western astronomy can be found in Mesopotamia, the "land between the rivers." The origins of Western astronomy can be found in Mesopotamia, the "land between the rivers."WesternMesopotamiaWesternMesopotamia A form of writing known as cuneiform emerged among the Sumerians around 3500-3000 BC that helped to document this information. A form of writing known as cuneiform emerged among the Sumerians around 3500-3000 BC that helped to document this information.cuneiform

6. Egypt It has been shown the Pyramids were aligned towards the pole star. It has been shown the Pyramids were aligned towards the pole star.pole starpole star When living in Alexandria, Egypt, Claudius Ptolemy proposed that planets moved in little circles that moved in bigger circles about the earth. When living in Alexandria, Egypt, Claudius Ptolemy proposed that planets moved in little circles that moved in bigger circles about the earth. For almost 1400 years people believed this to be true. For almost 1400 years people believed this to be true.

8. Greece The Ancient Greeks developed astronomy, which they treated as a branch of mathematics, to a highly sophisticated level. The Ancient Greeks developed astronomy, which they treated as a branch of mathematics, to a highly sophisticated level.Ancient GreeksAncient Greeks The first geometrical, three-dimensional models to explain the apparent motion of the planets were developed in the 4th century BC. The first geometrical, three-dimensional models to explain the apparent motion of the planets were developed in the 4th century BC.4th century BC4th century BC Their younger contemporary Heraclides Ponticus proposed that the Earth rotates around its axis. Their younger contemporary Heraclides Ponticus proposed that the Earth rotates around its axis.Heraclides PonticusHeraclides Ponticus

9. China Astronomy in China has a long history. Detailed records of astronomical observations were kept from about the 6th century BC, until the introduction of Western astronomy and the telescope in the 17th century. Astronomy in China has a long history. Detailed records of astronomical observations were kept from about the 6th century BC, until the introduction of Western astronomy and the telescope in the 17th century. Chinese astronomers were able to precisely predict comets and eclipses. Chinese astronomers were able to precisely predict comets and eclipses.comets

10. Islam The Arabic world under Islam had become highly cultured, and many important works of knowledge from Greek astronomy and Indian astronomy were translated into Arabic, used and stored in libraries throughout the area. The Arabic world under Islam had become highly cultured, and many important works of knowledge from Greek astronomy and Indian astronomy were translated into Arabic, used and stored in libraries throughout the area.IslamGreek astronomy Indian astronomyIslamGreek astronomy Indian astronomy

11. Western European Middle Ages There was a lack of progress has led some astronomers to assert that nothing happened in Western European astronomy during the Middle Ages. There was a lack of progress has led some astronomers to assert that nothing happened in Western European astronomy during the Middle Ages.

12. Copernican Revolution The renaissance came to astronomy with the work of Nicolaus Copernicus, who proposed a heliocentric system. The renaissance came to astronomy with the work of Nicolaus Copernicus, who proposed a heliocentric system.renaissanceNicolaus CopernicusheliocentricrenaissanceNicolaus Copernicusheliocentric His work was later defended, expanded upon and modified by Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler. His work was later defended, expanded upon and modified by Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler.Galileo Galilei Johannes KeplerGalileo Galilei Johannes Kepler

13. Heliocentric: In which the planets revolved around the Sun and not the Earth. In which the planets revolved around the Sun and not the Earth.

14. Galileo Galileo was among the first to use a telescope to observe the sky, and after constructing a refractor telescope he discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter in 1610. Galileo was among the first to use a telescope to observe the sky, and after constructing a refractor telescope he discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter in 1610. telescoperefractor telescopemoons Jupiter1610 telescoperefractor telescopemoons Jupiter1610 This was the first observation of satellites orbiting another planet. This was the first observation of satellites orbiting another planet. He also found that our Moon had craters and observed (and correctly explained) sunspots. He also found that our Moon had craters and observed (and correctly explained) sunspots.craters sunspotscraters sunspots

15. Modern Astronomy