Early Astronomy Flashcards
What are the early origins of astronomy?
Ancient astronomy emerged independently in various civilizations like Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with Stonehenge in Southern England being one of the most famous early observatories.
What is stonehenge?
Built circa 1900 - 1600 B.C., composed of 30 stones, including the 35-ton Heel Stone, once used to mark the summer solstice.
What influence did Babylon have on astronomy?
Developed mathematical formulas for predicting astronomical events like lunar phases around 500 B.C., understanding Earth and Sun as spherical contrary to popular belief.
What is the Aztec calendar?
Also known as the “Sun Stone,” a 3.7-meter, 24-ton calendar, debunking the myth that it ended in 2012; based on a 52-year cycle.
How did the Greeks contribute to astronomy?
Eratosthenes measured Earth’s circumference around 276 B.C., Aristotle proved Earth’s sphericity, and Ptolemy proposed the geocentric model, widely accepted for centuries.
What is the Copernican revolution?
Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model, initially rejected but gaining popularity for its explanations of celestial phenomena.
How are angles used in astronomy?
Angular degrees, minutes, and seconds are used to measure celestial objects’ angular diameter, enabling calculations of physical diameter and distance.
Name the units used for distance in astronomy.
Astronomical Unit (AU) measures Earth-Sun distance; Light-year (ly) measures distance light travels in a year; Parsec measures the distance at which 1 AU subtends an angle of 1 arcsecond.
Who began the modern astronomy movement?
Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler transformed astronomy into a quantitative science, introducing concepts like parallax to measure distances in space.
