Astronomy in Ancient Days

[Phidippides]

How advanced was astronomy to ancient civilizations?  We have a recent finding of the “Temple of the Fox” in Peru which apparently was some sort of astronomical device.  Of course, we have Stonehenge, the Pyramids of Egypt, and other ancient structures which we now realize had some significance in reading the movements of stars or other heavenly bodies.  How much do you think the ancients knew about astronomy?  Was it based on real science or not?

[DonaldBaker]

Pythagoras knew the circumference of the earth and also the moon.? He knew how to utilize shadow angles to derive the radius, which would then allow him to calculate the circumference.? The ancient Egyptians built their pyramids in accordance with the zodiac star formations and were able to align them perfectly with the most modest of measuring devices.? We'll probably never know how advanced they really were due to the great fire that burned the library of Alexandria, Egypt. 🙁

[Stumpfoot]

It never ceases to amaze me how much the ancients knew of the night skies. Especially given the fact they had no where near the technology available today, it's astounding.

[Author]

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