Apr 07
Owen JonesUncategorized Apparent Change, Asia Minor, Astronomer, astronomy, Average Person, C 547, Celestial Clock, children, Chinese Report, Crop Growth, Early Man, education, entertainment, environment, Food Availability, galaxy, Guest Star, History Of Astronomy, hobbies, how to, Important Dates, Lucky Guess, Neanderthal Man, other, outdoors, planets, Precession Of The Equinoxes, Sci Fi, science, Solar Eclipse, stars, Thales Of Miletus, Uncategorized, Whole Shebang, Wise Men
There is no uncertainty that astronomy is the oldest science and there is also no hesitation that astronomy was being studied by everyone, not only the wise men, thousands and thousands of years ago.
We do not understand exactly why they did it, but we can surmise that early man noticed a correlation between the weather and the stars, which were themselves not fully understood, of course.
Early man, probably even as far back as Neanderthal man, noticed the relationship between the weather and herd movements and crop growth, or at least fruit and nuts on local trees, if they did not have planted crops.
This means that people could see a connection between the stars and food availability. This relationship was probably ritualized into some sort of religion like early Wicca. Therefore, the stars became a very important part of the lives of every single person and it is likely that astrology and astronomy were widely intermixed by the average person.
However, there were also people who did not only use the stars as some vast celestial clock and who tried to make sense of the whole shebang. I am going to narrate below, eight of the most important dates or years in the history of astronomy before Christ walked on the Earth. In no way forget that they had nothing but an abacus to do there calculations and no telescopes, which came about two thousand years later.
585 BC: Thales of Miletus (c. 625- c. 547), a Greek, predicted a solar eclipse in Asia Minor purely on the basis of his observations and calculations. It was not a lucky guess!
c. 400 BC: the astronomer Oenopedes (5th. century). also a Greek, announces that the Earth is tilted on its axis with respect to the Sun.
352 BC: the Chinese report what they called a ‘guest star’, a supernova, which was the earliest reported sighting.
340 BC: The astronomer, Kidinnu (b. Babylon c. 379 BC) discovers the precession of the Equinoxes, ie the apparent change in the position of the stars caused by the Earth’s wobbling on its axis.
c. 300 BC: a ‘committee’ of Chinese astronomers compile star maps of the visible universe.
c. 240 BC: Chinese astronomers observe and make notes about Halley’s Comet. Also Eratosthenes of Cyrene (c. 276 – c.194 BC), a Greek, correctly calculate the Earth’s dimensions.
165 BC: Chinese astronomers notice sunspots for the first time.
c. 130 BC: the astronomer Hipparchus of Nicea (b. 147 BC), a Greek, correctly calculates the distance to the Earth’s Moon and also rediscovers the precession of the Equinoxes.
You will see from the dates above that obviously not everyone let nature and the stars rule their lives, as the comon farmer or hunter did. Some men actually put pen to paper, but before pen and paper even existed, and tried to work out ‘why these manifestations occurred?’.
These people must have been remarkable men to have worked these measurements out by calculation, observation by the naked eye and rationalization alone.
If you are fascinated by astronomy, then please pop along to our website at: http://astronomy.the-real-way.com
Mar 30
Owen JonesUncategorized 5 Million Miles, astronomy, Astronomy Facts, children, Distance From The Earth To The Sun, Distant Planets, Earth Revolves Around The Sun, Earth To The Sun, education, entertainment, environment, Eugene Shoemaker, Facts About The Moon, Fun Facts About, Fun Facts About The Moon, galaxy, Giant Leap, guide to, Heat And Light, hobbies, how to, Interesting Science, Lunar Prospector Spacecraft, Massive Planet, Neil Armstrong, other, outdoors, Planet Of Jupiter, planets, science, Shoe Print, Solar Winds, stars, Terrific Source, Uncategorized
Astronomy is an interesting science to most people because it is stuffed with many fun astronomy facts. Everything from the size and temperature of our own star, the Sun, to the make-up of distant planets has been recorded. All of this information can be retold to entertain and enlighten your friends.
The Sun is a fantastic source of astronomy fun facts. Our own star, which supplies us with all our heat and light is between 91 and 94.5 million miles from Earth. It’s not that nobody has measured the exact distance. It’s because the Earth revolves around the Sun in an elliptical, uneven, orbit, so the distance varies depending on where the Earth is situated in that orbit.
The Sun is only an average size star, yet it’s size is another terrific source of astronomy fun facts. As normal as it is, it accounts for about 98% of all the matter in our solar system. Even with the massive planet of Jupiter on our side, we’re still only a small 2% of non Sun material.
It would take the diameter of about 100 Earths to stretch across this average Sun. The solar winds created by the Sun extends to about 50 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Or put another way, those solar winds reach out about 50 AU’s. An AU being the distance from the Earth to the Sun, which is quite an fantastic fact, isn’t it?.
What about astronomy fun facts that don’t have anything at all to do with the Sun then? How about the Moon? It’s the only object that man has walked on except the Earth so far. And one man actually travelled to the Moon but has never left it. Dr. Eugene Shoemaker loved the Moon but was not found acceptable as an astronaut. After his death, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered over the Moon by the Lunar Prospector spacecraft in 1999.
There are many more astronomy fun facts about the Moon. It’s where what may become the oldest footprint known to man. Neil Armstrong’s giant leap for mankind left a footprint or shoe print in the Moon’s dust that will likely still be visible in 10 million years time.
Lots of people, in fact about 13% of those polled in 1988, still thought the Moon is made of cheese. And finally, the suits worn by the Moon-walking astronauts weighed 180 pounds on Earth but only 30 pounds on the Moon, because of the Moon’s reduced gravity. Talk about losing weight, eh?
Astronomy fun facts aren’t limited to our close astronomical neighbours. Looking at stars is like looking into the past. Some of the stars we see nowadays in the night sky are so far away that their light takes a million years to reach Earth. Some of the stars you see may literally be images of stars a million years old that aren’t even there in the present. There are over 1 x 10 ^22 stars in the universe. That’s a 1 followed by 22 zeros. And all their planets. The number is really quite staggering.
There are thousands of astronomy fun facts that we could relate. But, unfortunately, this article can not be that long. So, please, walk out there at night, look upwards and learn more about astronomy for yourself.
Interested in astronomy, then please pop along to our website at: Astronomy Today
Mar 18
Adriana NotonCanada animal, astronomy, biology, Canada, chemistry, education, engineering, Math, mathematics, Physics, research, science, society, sociology
For centuries, scientists have engaged in research that has increased our understanding of nature and how natural forces work to create and sustain the world and universe we see today. The purpose of science is to follow a process of making careful and unbiased observations in order to generate knowledge about the world through tested theories based on the scientific observations. Although theories may not guarantee the absolute truth about a particular scientific theory, the idea is to get as close to an accurate approximation of the truth. The result will lead to a more accurate and credible understanding of how the natural world works.
Scientists seek to learn as much as possible about the nature of the world. By using intellect, the aid of scientific study devices, and formulated scientific hypothesis, scientists now have a better understanding of nature. For instance, the principles of motion and the law of gravity are applicable when studying other parts of the universe, even if we have yet to travel to these areas. The same principles can be applied to other forces such as seeking to understand ocean tides, bird migrations, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Scientists study patterns both in the natural world and in laboratories using technologically advanced research devices to gather data, take measurements, and make their observations and create their scientific theories. The result is an improved understanding of nature.
Science also helps us understand how we evolved. By studying such elements as fossils of species that once roamed the earth millions of years ago, various rocks and other matter located deep within the earth, skeletal remains of dinosaurs, and the remains of prehistoric man and early primates, scientists have made many significant discoveries about how we evolved. In fact, such famous scientists as Stephen Hawking, Carl Sagan, Albert Einstein, and Charles Darwin, have all contributed important theories and data that have brought us even closer to understanding how the universe emerged and developed.
How science has reconstructed the events in the history of the planet and its life forms have led to remarkable improvements and insight into how nature works. For instance, by studying the contours of the ocean floors, the shape of continents, the effects of a volcano eruption and earthquake, and where different fossils have been found, we get a better understanding of why our continents reside where they are and how human populations and species migrated and evolved to what we see today. We also get a better understanding of the results of the ice age and the effect it had on the types of species we have today. Understanding how the world evolved and the changes that took place also helps us to better understand current world problems such as the effects of Global Warming which is essential to finding ways to slow it down. By understanding how nature and its natural forces work, we are better able to come up with ways to manage the planet and its inhabitants.
Because science relies heavily on accurate and unbiased data, there is a constant development of advanced techniques and instruments which has lead to many astounding discoveries in the world and universe. For instance, the Hubble Telescope has resulted in many astounding discoveries about the stars, planets, black holes, and even far away galaxies. With advanced computer systems and other technologically advanced instrument, the future for scientific discovery looks bright concerning our understanding of the history of the universe and the history of life on earth.
It will be interesting to follow the progression of nature and science in the years ahead. physics research will also be developed and integrated into even more systems that we use in everyday life.
Mar 15
Adriana NotonCanada animal, astronomy, biology, Canada, chemistry, education, engineering, Math, mathematics, Physics, research, science, society, sociology
Lots of people are learning some things about geographic information systems these days. One of the first things they are learning, is just what one is. A GIS as they are referred to, helps us to question, interpret, understand, and visualize data that can show us patterns or trends, or relationships by way of report, globes, charts, and maps.
The main way that GIS is used is through maps. But this is only one way that it can be taken advantage of. A GIS can be used in various ways, and can put out other products as well for the use of geographic data. They assist in problem solving in mapping programs and contribute data to many online mapping tools.
When you have a database that is full of information in relation to geography, then you have what is known as a geodatabase. This is a database in the geographic information systems that will interpret the world for you by putting it into geographic terms. It can lay out streets and addresses from an aerial point of view, enabling you to accurately see how the geography of that area lays out.
A GIS can be used along with a GPS in order to answer questions specifically about a certain location. You can use the data that is available for making analysis and accurately understand about the location in question. The GIS basically takes the information and can geoprocess it so that it can be used along with existing database information.
You may wonder who would have need of a GIS. Well, businesses can make good use of a GIS system. They can be used to analyze and more accurately calculate an ROI, or return on investment. This function is used by quite a few in the business world, like governments, academic institutions, agencies, or corporations and companies. The GIS can provide these types of businesses with a lot of helpful benefits.
With GIS you can see where there are quantities of things for finding relationships between different places. It is an added bit of information that can be useful in making decisions about how your business or organization will treat those places in regard to a project you may have in that region or area. It can map specific activities in various locations and present the data for it in a map form, even though the data is about a census.
This technology can be used to look at earthquake activity or other types of weather. If you can map things out and see how they look over a period of time, then you can get some insight into their behavior. Like with hurricanes. This gives you an idea of where and when the next ones are most likely to occur. This allows you to prepare for and anticipate possible future events. That can be very powerful, and very beneficial information.
Learning some things about geographic information systems, will help you to understand how lots of businesses are able to project future happenings and trends. It is an easier way of looking at data and being able to see just what it means in relation to the question at hand. It basically is an information converter, that puts data into a form that is then easily interpreted in a visual way. It has tremendous benefit for many situations and in answering important questions.
Canada’s top science authority offers vast knowledge on a variety of Canadian research topics, including mathematics research, engineering Canada, and physics research.
Mar 14
Owen JonesUncategorized astronomy, Calendars, education, environmental, hobbies, organising, other, outdoors, recreation, science, solar system, Time, Uncategorized
Christmas – is the celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Although the precise date of his birth is unknown, December 25th was most likely selected because it coincided with a pagan mid-winter festival. The ‘Twelve Days Of Christmas” mark the days between Christmas and Epiphany (January 6th), which was the day of the wise men’s visit.
Easter – is the most important day in the Christian calendar, because it celebrates Christ’s Resurrection, which gave / gives Christians the hope of salvation and eternal life. Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (Spring) equinox, which is on 21st March.
Shrove Tuesday – (Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) was originally a day of penance, but is now marked by merrymaking. It is the day before the commencement of Lent.
Ash Wednesday – is derived from the marking of a cross on the forehead of believers with the ashes from the burnt palms used on Palm Sunday.
Lent – 40 days of atonement and fasting
Palm Sunday – the Sunday before Easter, remembers the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, where palms were strewn on the road before him.
Maundy (Holy) Thursday – the day of the Last supper.
Good Friday – is the day of Christ’s crucifixion.
Holy Saturday – is the day before the Resurrection.
The Annunciation – March 25th is celebrated by Catholics as the day that Archangel Gabriel told Mary about her impending pregnancy.
Trinity Sunday – is celebrated by some denominations in honour of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. It was confirmed part of the holy calendar in 1334 by Pope John XII.
Corpus Christi – Catholics celebrates the presence of the body of Christ on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
All Saints Day – this mainly Catholic remembrance is on November 1 and honours all Christian saints.
Advent – a religious season that starts on the Sunday nearest to November 30 and lasts until Christmas Day. It celebrates the birth of Jesus and anticipates his Second Coming. It was once a period of fasting, but now no longer.
Holy Days Of Obligation – are feast days in the Catholic calendar marked by attendance at mass and the avoidance of unnecessary work. There are six in the USA: Solemnity of Mary – January 1: Christ’s circumcision, ie his first shedding of blood Ascension – 40 days after Easter Assumption – August 15: Mary is accepted into Heaven All Saints’ Day – November 1 Mary’s Immaculate Conception – December 8 Christmas Day – December 25.
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with Franklin Covey planner refillss If you have an interest in calendars, organizers or promotional calendars, please go over to our website now at Promotional Desk Calendars
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