Astronomy 1021 Study Guide - Geocentric Model, Orbital Period, Earth'S Rotation

• School: Western University
• Department: Astronomy
• Course: Astronomy 1021
• Professor: Stacey Hallman

Document Summary

Our ancestors were excellent at observing and recording the world around them and recognizing patterns in what they discovered. Careful observation and pattern recognition were also the first steps in what we now call the modern scientific method. Lascaux, france where paleolithic cave paintings dating back to 15 000 bce were discovered in 1940. Ancient people of central africa could predict seasons from the orientation of the horns of the crescent moon each month (once again a result of careful observation and pattern recognition). This also allowed them to determine when to plant seeds and grow their crops. Around 2500 bce, the egyptians used the first rising at dawn of the star sirius to mark the beginning of a 365 day calendar. The egyptians were the first to divide the night and day into 12 hours based on the rising of certain bright stars during summer nights.