Astronomy History Articles

Raphael's School of Athens showing ancient Greek philosophers

10 Top Astronomers from the Ancient World

From the western historical perspective, it is sometimes easy to focus on the astronomical works of early Greek astronomers too tightly, while overlooking the worthy contributions made by earlier philosophers from other cultures that have …

Orion and Sirius in ancient Egyptian mythology

Orion Constellation Myths of Sumer, Babylon and Egypt

James Miller

Orion is perhaps the most recognizable of all constellations and contains two of the night sky’s brightest stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse. The Orion constellation also straddles the celestial equator, meaning that it can be seen …

Who Discovered the Sun is a Star?

James Miller

In ancient Greece, early scientists such as Thales of Miletus (624-546 BC) first started to suspect that the Sun was not the deity Helios (Apollo) driving his chariot around the Earth, but was instead merely …

English Astronomy Pioneer Mary Adela Blagg (1858–1944)

James Miller

A century ago, having a conversation about the various features on the Moon could prove a difficult task as the maps of its surface were not standardized. In fact, it was left up to whoever …

The eight planets of the Solar System from Mercury to Neptune

How were the Planets of our Solar System Discovered?

James Miller

No single person discovered all the planets in our Solar System. Five of them — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn — have been known since ancient times because they are bright enough to see …

Megalithic Tombs Used as Ancient Astronomical Tool

James Miller

The first practical telescopes weren’t invented until the early 17th century when European astronomers became eager to study the stars and learn their secrets. Now, there is new evidence to suggest that ancient ancestors spread …

Antikythera Mechanism Reveals More Secrets

James Miller

In April 1900, divers exploring the sea near the Greek island of Antikythera came upon a shipwreck and made a remarkable discovery that has since been hailed as one of the greatest wonders of the …

Diagram illustrating Earth's orbit around the Sun and the twelve traditional zodiac constellations.

The Zodiac: Origins and the Problem with Precession

James Miller

Regardless of what one thinks of astrology as a means to predict the future or to define personality types, it must be stated that modern astronomy has its roots deep in several ancient astrological traditions. …

Did Armageddons Extinguish Early Alien Life?

James Miller

Are we alone in the universe? Many people who argue that alien life must exist say that it is impossible that Earth could be the only planet capable of sustaining life. They state that it …

The Babylonians and Geometric Astronomy

James Miller

Historians have long known that ancient civilizations had an interest in outer space, but have held that it wasn’t until the Europeans began seriously studying heavenly bodies during the 14th century that planets were accurately …