Category Archives: Historical

Evolution of Spectroscopy

Posted on February 28, 2021 by miichellewang

Spectroscopy describes the study of the interaction between matter and the wavelength of the light it produces, although this definition has been updated to include anything measured as a function of frequency or wavelength. Isaac Newton was one of the first people to demonstrate that light from the Sun could be scattered into a spectrumContinue reading “Evolution of Spectroscopy” Continue reading →

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Mound 72

Posted on February 28, 2021 by wslopes

Image Source Mound 72 is a very interesting example of the knowledge early Native Americans had about astronomy in at least 950 CE. Mound 72 is the sight of one of several “woodhenges” created by the Cahokia people of south west Illinois. These woodhenges were all relatively identical in relation to the positioning of theContinue reading “Mound 72” Continue reading →

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Pi’ilanihale Heiau

Posted on February 27, 2021 by solarcecily

Pi’ilanihale Heiau is located on the island of Maui, Hawai’i. It’s the largest shrine on the island, and throughout all of Hawai’i. Temples like this one are custom throughout ancient Polynesia, and many individual households would build their own smaller, personal household shrines. In face, “Pi’ilanihale” directly translates to “house of Pi’ilani.” The structure extendsContinue reading “Pi’ilanihale Heiau” Continue reading →

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The Tides of Mont-Saint-Michel

Posted on February 27, 2021 by connorrobbwilcox

As many know, the Moon causes the tides to occur all over our planet. But those same people may not know the place that has the largest change in high and low tides. Said place is an islet and commune called Mont-Saint-Michel. Off the coast of Normandy, France, it has an accessible walkway to itsContinue reading “The Tides of Mont-Saint-Michel” Continue reading →

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Newgrange

Posted on February 27, 2021 by bellagoodnight

When reading up on archaeoastronomy, I was immediately fascinated by Newgrange, a structure located in Ireland. This fascination was not only due to my slight obsession with Ireland, but also because of its age. It was built roughly around 3200 BC, meaning it is actually older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge! On the outside,Continue reading “Newgrange” Continue reading →

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Stonehenge and Archeoastronomy

Posted on February 27, 2021 by hunterspiveyastr

Stonehenge is one of the most easily recognizable sites across the globe. Often designated as one of the wonders of the ancient world, Stonehenge has both fascinated and confounded humanity for centuries. While some may still argue about how Stonehenge came to exist, whether it be aliens, magic, or old-fashioned hard work and sweat, oneContinue reading “Stonehenge and Archeoastronomy” Continue reading →

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Examining Historical Astronomy Through the Lens of Fiction

Posted on February 27, 2021 by alliefrymire

Humans have been studying the skies for millennia with our theories about how space works evolving and growing over the same amount of time. Today, our understanding of astronomy is based primarily on natural and mathematical laws that allow us to evaluate and understand the heavens objectively. However, humanity’s understanding of astronomy has not always … Continue reading Examining Historical Astronomy Through the Lens of Fiction → Continue reading →

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Eppur Si Muove

Posted on February 26, 2021 by wendyyb

… were the words (supposedly) quietly uttered by Galileo following his trial with the Catholic church. The Church disapproved of his support of the Copernican system which depicted the Sun being at the center of our solar system with Earth orbiting it. This contrasted with the Church’s view that we were at the center ofContinue reading “Eppur Si Muove” Continue reading →

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Reconciling Science and Religion

Posted on February 20, 2021 by rightascensionanddeclinolan

In 1615, Galileo wrote a letter to the Grand Duchess Christina (read: the Church) “to accommodate Copernicanism with the doctrines of the Catholic Church … [by] arguing that the Copernican theory was not just a mathematical calculating tool, but a physical reality” (source).  In his letter, Galileo claimed – among other things – the following:Continue reading “Reconciling Science and Religion” Continue reading →

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Historical Astronomers in Context

Posted on February 17, 2021 by zhengjs1

Johannes Kepler Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer, was important to our history for discovering three laws of planetary motion that are now named after him as well as finding key evidence for the highly-debated Sun-centered idea. Kepler’s first law explained that each planet orbits the Sun following an elliptical path with the Sun as aContinue reading “Historical Astronomers in Context” Continue reading →

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