Astronomy Timeline

Bone carvings

30,000 BCE

Bone carvings keep track of phases of Moon. Early people engraved patterns of lines on animal bones to keep track of the phases of the Moon. p. 17, F OV 1.6.

Mesopotamian ziggurats

4000 BCE

Mesopotamian ziggurats serve as observatories. Mesopotamian astronomers made careful observations from the tops of pyramid-like towers called ziggurats.

Building of Stonehenge

2500 BCE

Building of Stonehenge. The building of Stonehenge took place over many centuries. Alignments of the stones at Stonehenge mark the rising and setting points of the Sun at the solstices. p. 2.4, F 1.1, p. 32.

Temple of Amen-Ra at Karnak

2000 BCE

Temple of Amen-Ra at Karnak. The Temple of Amen-Ra at Karnak, Egypt was built so that its main axis points to the sunset at the summer solstice. p. 33.

Lunar eclipse observed at Ur in Mesopotamia

2000 BCE

Lunar eclipse observed at Ur in Mesopotamia. The oldest known recording of a lunar eclipse took place at Ur more than 4000 years ago. p. 37, F 1.15.

Chinese begin centuries long series of obs of eclipses

1300 BCE

Chinese begin centuries long series of obs of eclipses. Chinese astronomers recorded 900 solar and 600 lunar eclipses over a period of 2600 years. p. 46.

Babylonians predict lunar eclipses

700 BCE

Babylonians predict lunar eclipses. The Babylonians used their long record of eclipses to see regular patterns of eclipses. They used these patterns to predict lunar eclipses.

Hesiod describes practical uses for astronomy

700 BCE

Hesiod describes practical uses for astronomy. Hesiod's poem The Works and Days contains practical astronomical advice for navigation and for agricultural activities.

Thales said to have predicted solar eclipse

585 BCE

Thales said to have predicted solar eclipse. The eclipse took place during a battle between the Lydians and the Persians. They were so stunned by the eclipse they ended the battle. p. 38, F 1.16.

Anaximander describes model of Earth, Sun, Moon, stars

580 BCE

Anaximander describes model of Earth, Sun, Moon, stars. Anaximander's model was the forerunner of later Greek attempts to explain the heavens in non-mythological terms.

Anaximenes proposes model of cosmos

560 BCE

Anaximenes proposes model of cosmos. In Anaximenes model the stars are fixed to the inside of a solid vault surrounding the Earth. Later Greek astronomers develop this idea into the concept of the celestial sphere.

Pythagoras and students develop model of solar system

550 BCE

Pythagoras and students develop model of solar system. The model of Pythagoras used circular paths for the celestial bodies and assumed most celestial bodies are spheres. p. 39.