Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy - some of the earliest civilizations used astronomy to create calendars, necessary for planting crops effectively (Mayans) astronomy: the study of the Universe Our Modern Calendar Our Modern Calendar year: the time required for the Earth to orbit (one revolution) once around the Sun ( days) month: a division of the year that is based on the orbit (one revolution) of the Moon around the Earth (29.53 days) day: the time required for Earth to rotate once on its axis (23 hours, 56 minutes)
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy - The Mayans knowledge of astronomy allowed them to create structures, like Chichen Itza, where the Sun’s movement on the equinoxes (March 20 & September 22) casts a perfect shadow of one of their gods – Kukulkan!
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy - the Egyptians knowledge of astronomy allowed them to create pyramids aligned with the constellation, Orion
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy - the Incas knowledge of astronomy allowed them to create a Temple of the Sun room with a Intihuatana stone, which would become illuminated from the rising solstice sun and helped them as a working calendar
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy - The Temple of the Sun room allows for the morning sun to bisect its windows
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy Who’s Who of Early Astronomy Who’s Who of Early Astronomy 1. Ptolemy – the first astronomer to create a solar system model, but he was incorrect by having Earth at the center of the Universe (A.D. 140)
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy 2. Nicolaus Copernicus – the first astronomer to create an accurate solar system model and had the Sun at the center of the Universe (A.D. 1543)
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy 3. Tycho Brahe – favored the Ptolemaic theory of an Earth centered Universe, but did make significant observations regarding the planets and stars (A.D. 1500s)
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy 4. Johannes Kepler – favored Copernicus’ Sun-centered Universe and created three laws of planetary motion (elliptical orbits)
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy 5. Galileo Galilei – became the first astronomer to use a telescope and observed distinct features from the moon and the planets
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy 6. Isaac Newton – showed how gravitational force attracts everything in the Universe including planets orbiting the Sun (smaller objects are attracted to larger objects)
Ch.1, Sec.1 – Astronomy Modern Astronomy Modern Astronomy - In 1924, Edwin Hubble was able to view other galaxies other than the Milky Way, thus proving the Universe is much bigger than expected