Astronomy: The Fantastic Voyage Through Time Astronomy has been a

tool for agriculture, religion, divination and telling time since early civilization. These hands-on activities explore Astronomy’s history and development, from ancient civilization to modern times.

Presented by:Donna Governor

Brown-Barge Middle School Pensacola, Florida vogannod@cox.net

Ed Prather, Ph.D. University of Arizona

Tucson, AZeprather@as.arizona.edu

NSES Standards:CONTENT STANDARD

G:

As a result of activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop understanding of…..

Science as a human endeavor

History of science

Science as a Human EndeavorWomen and men of various social and ethnic backgrounds--and with diverse interests, talents, qualities, and motivations--engage in the activities of science, engineering, and related fields such as the health professions. Some scientists work in teams, and some work alone, but all communicate extensively with others. Science requires different abilities, depending on such factors as the field of study and type of inquiry. Science is very much a human endeavor, and the work of science relies on basic human qualities, such as reasoning, insight, energy, skill, and creativity--as well as on scientific habits of mind, such as intellectual honesty, tolerance of ambiguity, skepticism, and openness to new ideas.

History of ScienceMany individuals have contributed to the traditions of science. Studying some of these individuals provides further understanding of scientific inquiry, science as a human endeavor, the nature of science, and the relationships between science and society. In historical perspective, science has been practiced by different individuals in different cultures. In looking at the history of many peoples, one finds that scientists and engineers of high achievement are considered to be among the most valued contributors to their culture. Tracing the history of science can show how difficult it was for scientific innovators to break through the accepted ideas of their time to reach the conclusions that we currently take for granted.

Overview:Ancient Astronomy- Lunar Cycle in Babylonia & Calendars in Cuneiform

Archeoastronomy - Asimuth & Places of Celestial Significance

Egyptian Astronomy - Merkhet, Following Ra, the Sun god, Shadow Clocks & Star Clocks

Roman & Greek Astronomy - Constellations & Mythology, Sky Pictures & Erathosthenes

Middle Ages - Astrology & Medieval Perspectives of Heaven & EarthRenaissance - Trial of Galileo & Laws of Planetary MotionIndustrial Age - Comets & Messier ObjectsModern Age - Hubble’s Classification of Galaxies

Ancient Astronomy

Ancient Mesopotamia

Agriculture allows science

12 Month calendar based on lunar cycle

Activity: Lunar Cycles!

Calendars in Cuneiform

Using Babylonian months, create a calendar. Use Cuneiform numerals & illustrate with pictures from ancient Mesopotamia.

Babylonian Months:

Nisan Lyyar Sivvan

Tammuz Ab Elul

Tisri Marchesvan Kislev

Tebet Sebut Adar

When needed, a 13th month was added to the Calendar.

Archeoastronomy: Ancient astronomical practices, celestial lore & more

Position of sunrise and sunset at key celestial alignment dates helped track time and seasons, critical to agriculture & civilization.

Azimuth & AlignmentFinding the times

Learning to work with Azimuth

Locations for celestial alignments

Mapping the site

Egyptian Astronomy

LimitedAccomplishmentsPrimary Uses were:

Mythology Time KeepingArchitecture

Egyptian MythologyRa - Sun God

Born every morning - travels across sky in his boat

At night, travels to the Underworld

Track Ra’s path across the sky!

Astronomy & PyramidsNorth-South alignment

Alignment using the North Star- Thuban

Invented the Merkhet

Make an Astrolabe!

Astronomy - Telling TimePrimary use of Astronomy in Ancient Egypt was Telling TimeShadow ClocksStar ClocksMake these with students!

Roman & Greek Astronomy

Constellations associated with Greek and Roman

Mythology Orion: Orion inherited great talent,

and became the greatest hunter in the world. Unfortunately for him, with his immense strength came an immense ego, and he boasted that he could best any animal on earth. In response to his vanity, a single small scorpion stung him and killed him.

Discovering the Myths & Legends

Constellations Cards

Find my match

Find my story

Sky Pictures - Writing my own myths & legends

Eratosthenes Finds Earth’s Circumference!

Astronomy as a Science

What did they know?

The spherical Earth

Calculating the circumference

Geo-centric vs.

helio-centric system

Astronomy in the Middle AgesCelestial Spheres

Geo-centric

Ancient knowledge lost - limited retention in monasteries

Science flourished in Arabic world

Astrology: Application of Astronomy

Early middle ages - condemned as idolatryLater acceptance - God’s creation of the stars and planets, endowed with His powers of influence

What’s Your Sign? Use Astrology to Teach Astronomy Concepts:

Ecliptic

Precession of axis

Planetary & retrograde motion

Constellations

Planetary alignments

Debunking pseudo-science

Aristolean Elements

Aristotle Rediscovered

Elementals:

Fire

Earth

Air

Water

Eather

Writing Poetry

Alchemy Not quite Astronomy, but a great activity to better understand medieval sciencePhilosopher’s StoneElixir of Life

Marketing the Philosopher’s Stone!•Properties of Matter•States of Matter•Changes in Matter•Nature of Matter

Renaissance and AstronomyWays of Knowing -

Appeal to:

Tradition

Authority

Common Sense

Reason

Religion

Science

A Heliocentric Model EmergesNicholas Copernicus

Father of Modern Astronomy

Suggestion of heliocentric model based on mathematics

Author: “On the Revolution of the Spheres”

Trial of GalileoWhat is Truth?Adaptation of the telescopeObservation of sunspots, lunar landforms & moons of JupiterBegins separation of science, religion and government

Kepler & NewtonLaws of Planetary MotionGravityNewton’s Laws

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion:• Law of Elipses• Law of Areas• Harmonic Law

Newton’s Laws Work!

Halley’s Comet Signals the beginning of the Industrial Age!Making CometsCalculating PeriodStudying Elliptical OrbitsComets in History

Messier & Non-Comets

Comets: Studying & Hunting

20 Discoveries

Cataloged

Non-Comets:

Galaxies

Nebula

Star Clusters

Finding Messier ObjectsUsing Celestial

CoordinatesRight AscensionDeclinationAnalogous to Longitude & LatitudeLocate all 110 Messier Objects on Celestial Sky Grid

William Herschel

Advances in:

Bigger telescopes

Deep Sky Objects

Discovers Uranus!

Discovers Infrared Light

“Island Universes”

Modern Age of Astronomy

Edwin Hubble - 20th Century Astronomy

Classification of Galaxies

Spiral

Eliptical

Irregular

The Voyage Continues…….

History is being made daily in all areas of Astronomy

Astronomy: The Fantastic Voyage Through Time

Thank you!