PHIL 170 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Baktun, Chichen Itza, Kukulkan
Document Summary
Concerns: horizon/zenith based astronomy (makes alt/az coordinates more useful in studying their systems, unlike the chinese equatorial system) Sophisticated observation of patterns of venus orbit, including recognition of morning star / . Maya recognized patterns of motion of venus, repeated once every 5 cycles. 584 day intervals corresponding to complete synodic period of venus. Short count ritual calendar, 52 year calendar (mainly aztec), 365 day solar calendar, and the long. Long count began august 13, 3113 bce (note the significance of the teotihuacan pyramid of the sun alignment), last (13th) baktun (~394 years) ended december 21, 2012. Because the maya area is within the tropics, twice a year the sun will pass through the zenith. The periods are 105 and 260 days between these passages. The significance of zenith passage and equinoxes.
