Astronomy: The Beginning

Nabta

• Earliest astronomical observations by African cattle herders
• stones used for rituals in England
• named 800 stars
• created an accurate calendar

Stonehenge

• Earliest astronomical observations by African cattle herders
• stones used for rituals in England
• named 800 stars
• created an accurate calendar

Ancient Chinese

• Earliest astronomical observations by African cattle herders
• stones used for rituals in England
• named 800 stars
• created an accurate calendar

Babylonians

• Earliest astronomical observations by African cattle herders
• stones used for rituals in England
• named 800 stars
• created an accurate calendar

Ancient Greeks

• invented the astrolab and algebra
• built buildings to align with celestial events
• named 800 stars
• Aristotle explained lunar phases and eclipses

Ancient Arabs

• invented the astrolab and algebra
• built buildings to align with celestial events
• named 800 stars
• Aristotle explained lunar phases and eclipses

Maya Civilization

• invented the astrolab and algebra
• built buildings to align with celestial events
• named 800 stars
• Aristotle explained lunar phases and eclipses

Ptolemy

• Earth is center of universe;planets move
• sun is the center of the universe
• Planets revolve around sun, sun around earth
• heliocentric model, elliptical paths

Copernicus

• Earth is center of universe;planets move
• sun is the center of the universe
• Planets revolve around sun, sun around earth
• heliocentric model, elliptical paths

Tycho Brahe

• Earth is center of universe;planets move
• sun is the center of the universe
• Planets revolve around sun, sun around earth
• heliocentric model, elliptical paths