Astronomy

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Astronomy

• A True Science

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Astronomy

• Astronomy The study of the area (and its
  contents) extending from beyond the Earths
  atmosphere to the most distant reaches of the
  Universe.
• Includes investigating other planets, and other
  cosmic particles found in the universe.
• Employs the Scientific Method

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What makes something a Science?

• Ability to test concepts with experiments
• Experiments can be replicated.
• Follows a form of the Scientific Method.
• Able to make predictions that can be tested.
• Follows a logical series of investigations.
• Theories based on proven facts or theories and
  not beliefs.
• Observable facts that are supported by measurable
  data.

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Astrology

• The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but
  in ourselves, that we are underlings.
• Cassius Julius Caesar
• By William Shakespeare

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Astrology fun but not science

• Astrology A _____________ involving the belief
  that the position of celestial objects influences
  events on Earth.
• Potential Influences
• ___________
• Earthquakes
• _______________
• _______________

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Problems with Astrology

• Not supported by experimentation
• Examples
• Of 2,978 couples who were married and 478 who
  divorced. Incompatibly signed men and women got
  married as frequently as compatible signed ones.
• When the astrological readings of 22 subjects was
  reversed, the subjects said the reading applied
  to them just as often as people who were read the
  correct phrases.

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Astrologys influence on Astronomy

• The study of the heavens probably began the
  instant humans started observing the movements of
  the celestial bodies and associating it with the
  seasons.
• The first observational data appeared in
  Mesopotamia between _____________ years ago.
• Records kept by early Babylonians document the
  positions of the sun, moon, and stars!
• The Egyptians also contributed greatly to the
  science of Astronomy, but little is known of
  their direct influence Many historians believed
  they influenced the Greeks.
• The Ancient Greeks are credited as the first
  people to significantly raise the level of
  understanding in the field of astronomy. Some
  suggest that Greek discoveries should be
  credited to the Egyptians. (You will
  investigate individual astronomers shortly)
• The constellations and the signs of the zodiac
  can partially be attributed to early astrologers.

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The Zodiac

• Historically all the heavenly objects moving
  around the earth with in a narrow band of the
  sky.
• Today we know that the planets move through the
  narrow band of the sky because their orbits
  around the sun lie in similar planes (fig. OV1.8)
• The Zodiac is A narrow band in the celestial
  sphere where the planets always move within.
• Celestial Sphere

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Constellations

• Constellation
• Examples
• Leo, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion
• Constellations are linked to various stories
• Select a constellation from the zodiac and we
  will discuss a myth associated with it.
• Constellation homework. Due Friday