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Questions and Answers
What is the origin of the word 'astronomy'?
What is the origin of the word 'astronomy'?
What is the primary focus of Planetary Science in astronomy?
What is the primary focus of Planetary Science in astronomy?
What is the main difference between astronomy and astrology?
What is the main difference between astronomy and astrology?
What is the primary goal of Observational Astronomy?
What is the primary goal of Observational Astronomy?
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What was the role of astronomy in ancient times?
What was the role of astronomy in ancient times?
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What was the purpose of the calendars created by ancient civilizations?
What was the purpose of the calendars created by ancient civilizations?
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What was a significant contribution of the Chinese civilization to astronomy?
What was a significant contribution of the Chinese civilization to astronomy?
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What was the significance of the period of ancient Greek in astronomy?
What was the significance of the period of ancient Greek in astronomy?
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Who developed a universe model that centered Earth in everything?
Who developed a universe model that centered Earth in everything?
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What was the contribution of Babylon in astronomy?
What was the contribution of Babylon in astronomy?
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Study Notes
Definition and Branches of Astronomy
- Astronomy is the science that studies sky objects from every aspect, including chemical and physical structures, movements, and more.
- The word "astronomy" is derived from ancient Greek words "Astron" and "nomos", meaning "the law of the stars".
- Astronomy is divided into subfields, including:
- Observational Astronomy: analysis of sky objects' features based on observation data.
- Planetary Science: study of planets, exoplanets, and planetary systems.
- Astrophysics: examination of physical properties.
- Astrobiology: study of biological systems in the universe.
- Astrometry: measurement of the position and motion information of celestial bodies.
Pre-Renaissance Astronomy
Ancient Times
- Astronomy was not an exact science in ancient times, but a belief system and a tool to organize daily life.
- Ancient civilizations created calendars by examining the movements of celestial bodies, especially the sun and moon.
- The term "astrology" was spawned in ancient times due to the divine expressions attached to astronomical objects.
- Examples of ancient civilizations' contributions to astronomy include:
- Egyptians predicted the flooding time of the Nile by using their calendars and observing the position of Sirius.
- Babylon made the first known recorded observations in history (2000 BC) and divided the sky into separate areas, founding the term "constellation".
- Chinese prepared the first known star catalogs and recorded observations of the moon, solar eclipses, and comets.
Ancient Greek Contributions
- This period saw the foundations of modern astronomy being seeded.
- Astronomy, physics, and philosophy were discussed together, with mathematics and geometry used to explain the movements of celestial bodies.
- Key figures include:
- Aristoteles, who developed a geocentric model of the universe that centered Earth (remained valid until the 16th century).
- Eratosthenes, who measured the diameter of Earth.
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Description
Learn about the definition and branches of astronomy, including observational astronomy and planetary science. Explore the science that studies sky objects from every aspect.
