Category Archives: Historical

Archaeoastronomy: A Connection between Ancient and Modern Cultures

Posted on February 13, 2015 by oliviasn

I have always been fascinated by different cultures and how cultures interact with each other. Thus, whenever I learn about a new subject, I always try to approach it from a cultural perspective. I had not found a way to do so with astronomy until I learned about the field of archaeoastronomy. I am especially […] Continue reading →

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It’s About Time

Posted on February 13, 2015 by emilyksharp

Most of us have calendars hung in our kitchens or virtual apps constantly berating us with times, dates, and upcoming …

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The first navigational tool

Posted on February 12, 2015 by karenagrebenc

Image from kaloujm.com People have been using the sky as their source of navigation for years, and one of the first tools made for the purpose of aiding in navigation (that wasn’t a body part!) was the kamal.  The exact date is unsure, but it’s estimated that this tool came into use around the fifth […] Continue reading →

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The Mystery of Stonehenge

Posted on February 10, 2015 by michellelei

The mysterious, striking structure of Stonehenge has fascinated archeologists, historians, and many people alike ever since its discovery. There are a multitude of theories as to what its purpose might have been, such as an astronomical observatory, a religious/spiritual site, and some even believe that it was placed on Earth by extraterrestrials. Many archeoastronomers believe… Continue reading The Mystery of Stonehenge Continue reading →

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Blog Post #3: The Magellanic Clouds

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Elizabeth D.

When we were discussing celestial navigation in class, a thought occurred to me: if Polaris cannot be seen in the …

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The World’s Largest Vaccuum

Posted on February 9, 2015 by jclyncmp

The world’s largest vacuum is located at NASA’s Space Power Facility in Ohio. In this video, a bowling ball and a feather are dropped together under the conditions of outer space to demonstrate the concept that objects will fall at…

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Project Blue Book

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Marissa LePore

Conspiracists, rejoice. After two decades of filing Freedom of Information Act requests for any information the US government has on UFOs and other weird sightings, the efforts of proclaimed UFO enthusiast John Greenwald have been fruitful. Last month the files were released and Greenwald posted the 130,000 pages of declassified material on his website, The Black […] Continue reading →

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“Eppur si muove” … Maybe not

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Marissa LePore

“And yet it moves.” Legend has it that these were the words whispered by Galileo after he recanted his claim that the Earth orbits the Sun before the Catholic Church at his trial in 1633. The Church had threatened his life if he did not, so this story shows a 70 year old man not willing to […] Continue reading →

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The Astronomical Origins of Stonehenge

Posted on February 5, 2015 by robbyks

Above is a photo of Stonehenge I took when I visited England the summer after freshman year of high school. I was so amazed by this structure. I wondered why it was built and what was its purpose. I did not know at the time, but many believe Stonehenge has connections to ancient astronomy. Archaeoastronomers are […] Continue reading →

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Galileo Galilei in a Historical Context

Posted on February 4, 2015 by davidhuang2015

Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564 – January 8, 1642) Galileo was important for quite a few discoveries. His career in science began when he began to study as a mathematician. One of his largest contributions to astronomy was the discovery of the telescope. The telescope became a huge sensation. His refinement of the telescope allowed […] Continue reading →

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