ancient astronomy
Prehistoric celestial observation
Ancient astronomy is the study and practice of observing celestial bodies as conducted by early civilizations—Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Mayan, and others.
These cultures tracked stars, planets, and eclipses for calendrical, agricultural, navigational, and religious purposes.
Much of what they recorded laid groundwork for modern astronomy, though their interpretations often blended with astrology and mythology.
Ancient astronomy helped farmers know when to plant crops.
- star chartsMaps of night sky
- night skyDarkness above after sunset
- armillary sphereRinged astronomical teaching model
- constellationsRecognized celestial groupings
- sundialShadow-based timekeeper
zodiac signs · astrolabe · Mayan calendar · water clock · quadrants · fixed stars · stone circles · sky lore · cosmic order · morning star · gnomon · solar eclipses · planetary alignments · lunar phases · Ptolemy · temple · observatory · Mayan
ancient astronomyradio astronomy
Analyzing cosmic electromagnetic emissions