It's uncertain when early humans first started observing the night sky; it could have been thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago. According to Moiya McTier, an astrophysicist and folklorist who wrote the book "The Milky Way: An Autobiography of our Galaxy," one of the great things about astronomy is that ancient humans could practice it without sophisticated tools.
McTier adds that people need not be mathematically advanced or have specialized equipment, just a dark enough environment. Hence, she considers astronomy to be a science for the people. Moiya McTier informed NPR that the night sky had inspired humans to create stories about the universe and explain the natural world for an extended period.
Link Between Astronomy and Folklore
Moiya sees astronomy and folklore as interrelated and defines science as a rigorous effort to comprehend and explain the environment. In Moiya's opinion, the myths' explanations reflect ancient people's knowledge about their surroundings, including the prediction of eclipses and annual floods in Egypt. Hence, folklore and mythology can be utilized to grasp early humanity's scientific attempts.
The stars seen by early humans were different from what we see now because everything in the galaxy is constantly moving. This includes the rotating Milky Way, Earth's wobbling axis, and the planet's yearly orbit around the sun. Moiya McTier delves into the relationship between astronomy and folklore, highlights that the night sky is more active than it appears, and gives a glimpse into what it feels like to experience astronomical events.
On the other hand, National Geographic reports that people have been fascinated with the night sky for thousands of years, even before the invention of telescopes or space travel. Ancient people closely observed the stars and planets and used this knowledge in practical and symbolic ways. They used celestial objects to tell time, navigate, and, most significantly, understand their connection to the universe.
The Pleiades star cluster lies in the constellation of Taurus.
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Observing Zodiac Constellation
Furthermore, the stars and planets were also used to create stories, shape societies, and give meaning to the world around them. The stars have captivated us since the dawn of time. People have been observing the night sky, tracking the movements of stars and planets, and using this knowledge to tell time, navigate the world, and understand the universe. Evidence of this fascination dates back to 17,000-year-old cave paintings that depict what we today recognize as Taurus and Orion constellations.
Different cultures have interpreted these patterns uniquely, linking them to local legends and myths or shaping new ones. According to Space.com, the Zodiac constellations, following the ecliptic, are some of the oldest recorded and still hold the same meanings as when Babylonian astronomers in the 6th century B.C. recorded them.
The Greeks made a lasting impact on astronomy with the works of Claudius Ptolemy, who compiled a list of 1,022 stars in the 2nd century A.D., becoming the foundation of what we know as the night sky today. His text, Almagest, is the basis of modern astronomical knowledge and reflects the influence of Greek myths, legends, and older Babylonian ideas.
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