Astronomy A True Science

Astronomy Astronomy – –Includes investigating other planets, and other cosmic particles found in the universe. –Employs the Scientific Method

What makes something a Science? Ability to test concepts with experiments 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.

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

Astrology – fun but not science Astrology – A _____________ involving the belief that the position of celestial objects influences events on Earth. Potential Influences: – ___________ –Earthquakes –_______________

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.

Astrology’s 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.

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 –

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