The answer to the question of whether astronomy is a historic or recently developed area is this: astronomy is definitely a historic field. In fact, Astronomy happens to be the oldest natural science in the world.

As we know, Astronomy existed for a long time before Trigonometry was founded. Astronomy was actually the reason that any advancements were made in Trigonometry. Aristarchus of Samos was the first to unite Trigonometry and Astronomy, eighteen centuries before Copernicus. Aristarchus tried to compare the distance from Earth to the Sun and to the Moon. He presented the first known correct Heliocentric model of the Solar System by placing the Sun instead of the Earth at the center of our universe. He placed the other planets in their correct order of distance around the Sun.

Aristarchus’ 3 rd Century BC calculations. A more simplified version of Aristarchus’ calculations.

Past Greek astronomers used spherical trigonometry to determine the time of day, direction of motion, and the positions of ships or reference points. Early mathematical astronomers developed techniques to predict eclipses. So, the application of trigonometry in astronomy has not changed too much. The basic foundation remains consistent, which is that it is used to measure distances.