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Astronomy is our oldest science
It began when ancient peoples first looked up in awe into the sky and noticed several unusual things about the objects they saw there.
First, they noticed that the sun, moon, and the stars moved across the sky each day from east to west--the sun in the day, and the stars at night. We know now that this movement is caused by the earth's rotation. Measuring this rotation precisely, they gave us our 24-four hour day.
Second, they also noticed that the stars changed patterns from season to season. In other words, there were certain star patterns, which they called constellations, that appeared in the fall, others in the winter, still others in the spring, and finally still others in the summer. They also noticed that even the sun seemed to change some with the seasons. In summer it got high in the sky, while in the winter it stayed low all day. The change in star patterns and even the change in the height of the sun itself, is caused by the revolution of the earth around the sun. Measuring the changing star patterns and the height of the sun in the sky, they gave us our year.
They also noticed that the moon acted quite differently from the other objects in the sky. It changed shape, sometimes being big and round, while at other times it was only a sliver. They noticed that it changed shape in a regular pattern. It took seven days to go from being half lit to being fully lit and another seven days to go from being fully lit to being half lit again. In another seven days, it shrunk to such a size it was invisible. In all, it took about four sets of seven day periods to go through all the cycles. Measuring these changing shapes of the moon, they gave us our weeks and months. We owe all this to ancient astronomers!
Astronomy Today
Today, there is still much science being done in astronomy. Much of the astronomy research is done at the professional level. Telescopes are in space around the earth and among the planets, and earth-based telescopes push the limit of what can be seen.
Amateur astronomers are also doing research and are on the forefront of science. Amateur astronomers regularly measure stars that vary in brightness, and take detailed measurements of the sun, and of the moons of distant planets. And amateur astronomers also still go out every clear day or night and stand in awe of what the sun, moon, and stars reveal!
This website is dedicated to that research and to amateur astronomers everywhere. May they continue to reveal new and exciting truths!
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