From the dawn of existence, humankind has always been curious about its surroundings. This fundamental characteristic of evolution has paved the way for the discovery of great facts. Among them, the pride of history, without a doubt, is ancient astronomy itself.
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Relevant facts about ancient astronomy that you should take into account
It may seem difficult to imagine that, in the distant past, astronomy was already a well-established science. This is especially true because, at that time, the necessary resources for accurate study were not available.
However, man has soared through the skies with precision, relying merely on rudimentary instruments. In addition, at that time, the intellectual community had to fend for itself, so innovations did not stop appearing.
The beginnings of ancient astronomy started with the observation of celestial phenomena. From the famous eclipses and the movement of the moon and sun to the now-familiar meteor showers, everything was studied.
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By virtue of this, the first sightings and most accurate conclusions for the time were released. One of them was the geocentric theory of Ptolemy, where it was established that the Earth was the center of the universe.
Other precise data from ancient astronomy led to the discovery and understanding of other planets in the solar system. Beyond Jupiter and Saturn, there were still unexplored limits, little imagined at that time. Even so, they were discovered and revealed to the general public.
For its part, ancient astronomy was closely related to the religion and beliefs of the time. Basically, the readings obtained by some cosmological event were attributed to a deity or similar.
Likewise, various celestial events were associated with good fortune or misfortune. For example, some believed that eclipses heralded new beginnings, while others thought they triggered apocalyptic events. Regardless, thanks to the influence of different cultures, we know a small part of the universe.
Ancient Chinese astronomy. Was it as influential as the Greek? The truth is here!
The only irrefutable aspect of ancient Chinese astronomy is that its longevity is greater than that of other cultures. Even its presence dates from years before the establishment or rise of Greek astronomy as such.
This Western science was considered one of the most precise of its time. It was also revolutionizing the understanding of the planet and existence itself. Furthermore, it was characterized by its purely scientific approach, without overly interfering with beliefs or the presence of deities.
In fact, due to the influence of ancient Chinese astronomy , some of the most famous constellations were named. Western astronomy predicted the existence of up to 284 constellations in the sky, but these are now considered asterisms or unverified constellations.
Ancient Chinese astronomy, for its part, is celebrated for its outstanding work. They were the first to study sunspots and possessed one of the oldest solar calendars. In general, their fascination with the sun was immense, and they studied it closely.
Similarly, among its ranks lies one of the most comprehensive early star calendars to date. With more than 800 stars catalogued, they began to take a look at the heavens of the universe and how they directly influenced the Earth.
It is worth noting that Western astronomy considered China to be the center of the planet, adopting a fixed position in relation to it. Based on their own conclusions regarding the Sun, they were able to deduce the beginning and end of the day in China.
The weight of astronomy in ancient Greece that is still palpable today
Although it is true that Chinese astronomy is older than the Greek, very little is known about it. However, astronomy in ancient Greece was considered revolutionary, supported by great heroes.
One only needs to look at the earliest conceptualizations of the universe with the geocentric theory. A premise that remained valid until the rise of the Renaissance as such.
Talking about this science linked to Greece is a guarantee of great feats in cosmological matters. Heroes such as Aristotle, Ptolemy, Archimedes and more, are owners of the most influential astronomical works of the time. Although several of his ideas are now discarded, they served as a starting point to support astronomy in ancient Greece.
Traveling to the stars with the Almagest
The Almagest is Ptolemy's masterpiece and final work describing the universe. Its publication solidified his geocentric theory, which was quickly adopted by the scientific community.
Within the Almagest, the 48 approved and currently known constellations, including those of the zodiac, are described in great detail. In turn, Ptolemy offered an exact and embodied vision of the movements made by the planets around the Earth.
A look at the size of the universe: The Sand Counter
Archimedes is credited with writing "The Sand Reckoner," a work intended to calculate the size of the universe. In short, the text is based on the premise of determining how many grains of sand would be needed to fill the universe.
Source: Star Tourism
Beyond actually considering estimating the actual size of the cosmos, he made use of his work to create a giant numbering system. Thanks to his contribution, the myriad, is known for expressing incalculable or indecipherable numbers.
Aristotle's Thoughts: On Heaven
On the Heavens has transcended time as a philosophical and astronomical masterpiece by Aristotle. In it, he presents the most accurate movements and descriptions of the celestial bodies studied at that time.
Similarly, Aristotle emphasizes his theory of the sphericity of the Earth and the Universe. Basically, he established that the Earth, like the cosmos, had a perfect circular shape, with movements that have a why and what for.
