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 [email protected]
Ed Prather, Ph.D. University of Arizona
Tucson, [email protected]
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 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
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