Astronomical History & Mythology Glossary

I. Who was Hipparchus? Hipparchus was a Greek astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 2nd century BC. He was born in Nicaea, Bithynia (modern-day Turkey) and spent most of his life in Rhodes, Greece. Hipparchus is often referred to as the “father of trigonometry” and is considered one of the greatest astronomers of antiquity. … Read more

I. What are The Voyager Golden Records? The Voyager Golden Records are a pair of phonograph records that were launched into space aboard the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1977. The records were intended to communicate a message from Earth to any extraterrestrial civilizations that may encounter the spacecraft in the distant future. … Read more

I. What were the early contributions of Arabic astronomers to astronomy? Arabic astronomers made significant contributions to the field of astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age, which lasted from the 8th to the 14th centuries. One of the earliest contributions of Arabic astronomers was the translation of Greek and Indian astronomical texts into Arabic. This … Read more

I. What is Celestial Navigation? Celestial navigation is a method of navigating a ship or aircraft by using the positions of celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars. By observing the angles between these celestial bodies and the horizon, navigators can determine their position on the Earth’s surface. This ancient technique has … Read more

I. What is Indigenous North American Starlore? Indigenous North American Starlore refers to the traditional knowledge and beliefs of Indigenous peoples in North America regarding the stars and celestial bodies. This includes the stories, myths, and practices related to the night sky that have been passed down through generations within Indigenous communities. II. What role … Read more

Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion are a set of three fundamental principles that describe the motion of planets around the sun. These laws were formulated by the German astronomer Johannes Kepler in the early 17th century and laid the foundation for modern celestial mechanics. In this article, we will explore the significance of Kepler’s Laws, … Read more

I. Who is Sagittarius in Greek Mythology? In Greek mythology, Sagittarius is often associated with the centaur Chiron. Chiron was a wise and skilled centaur who was known for his knowledge of medicine, music, and prophecy. He was also a renowned teacher, having taught many of the greatest heroes of Greek mythology, such as Achilles, … Read more

I. What is Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation? Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) is the faint glow of radiation that fills the universe. It is the oldest light in the universe, dating back to just 380,000 years after the Big Bang. CMB is made up of photons that have been traveling through space for billions of … Read more

I. What is the Milky Way? The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our solar system. It is a barred spiral galaxy with a diameter of about 100,000 light-years and is estimated to contain 100 to 400 billion stars. The Milky Way is just one of billions of galaxies in the universe, but it … Read more

I. What is the role of astronomy in ancient timekeeping? Astronomy has played a crucial role in timekeeping for ancient civilizations. Before the invention of clocks and watches, people relied on the movements of celestial bodies to track time. By observing the positions of the sun, moon, and stars, ancient astronomers were able to create … Read more