CLCS 38500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Anaximander, Unmoved Mover, Celestial Equator
Document Summary
Early astronomy: border between astronomy and astrology, navigation, planting and harvest cycles, civic and religious calendars. Lunar (12 x 28-30-day months = 348-day year) Intercalary over 19-year cycle (meton of athens, ca. Calculation of seasonal lengths based on equinoxes and solstices. Observable phenomenon: sun risings and settings (e-w) seasonal shifts altitudes, moon risings, settings (e-w), phases seasonal shifts, stars. 1000 stars in 48 constellations central band of 12 constellations (zodiac) risings and settings (e-w) seasonal shifts: planets [plan tes] : mercury, venus, mars, jupiter, saturn risings and settings (e-w) seasonal shifts retrogradations comets meteors occultations, oppositions, eclipses . The stars come to be as a band of fire separated off from the fire in the kosmos and enclosed in dark mist. There are vents, tube-like passages through which stars appear. For this reason, eclipses occur when the vents are blocked. The moon alternately appears to wax and wane, as the vents open and close.
