Astronomy definition

Hello :3 How are you? how was your day so far?

😛 Sorry that do you notice how is the weather today? Before you went to your workplace today, did you check it? Did you have time to look at the sky? Gne wonders how is the sky at your place 🙂

Here is in Seattle – Tacoma area, Gne sees it’s very cloudy.

As Gne looks up the sky, the white clouds mixed with the gray clouds are dominated. Gne doesn’t see any sunlight. How about you? does your place have the sunlight? is it too bright that you need to wear sunglass? 🙂 Or it’s too cool outside and you thought you might be lost in the Frozen animation movie? XD

Can you do the action: move your head up and look at the sky where you are? Can you share with Gne how is the sky at your place? How do you feel after look at the sky? do you feel a little relax? or little worry about the rain or snow later 🙂

Gne understands your thought. It’s the normal common sense when we observe the sky. That idea is the Astronomy definition in the short words.

Astronomy definition

Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences.

It studies celestial objects and phenomena.
It applies mathematics, physics, and chemistry in an effort to explain the origin of those objects and phenomena and their evolution.

Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets; the phenomena also include supernova explosions, gamma-ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation.

According to Wikipedia

Now, take a look with Astronomy definition from my main source

Astronomy is the science of celestial bodies or cosmic matter.

This understanding is based on observation of the cosmos and measurement of radiation which is then assessed according to the laws of physics and chemistry

Astrophysics, which attempts to gain a more accurate picture of cosmic events, has developed as a specialised branch of astronomy.

Astro wiki

A little summary about the ancient Astronomy

If we traced back into the root, it would be around 2500 years BCE (Before the Common Era), some astrologers believe so. It means we go back into ….

Let’s do the properly math here a little bit 😛

First, AD= CE. Anno Domini aka “In the year of Our Lord” = Common Era. AD is the Christian term and the CE is rare use now a day.

The different names, they all mention into one-period timeline only. It’s the current calendar. We are 2019, right? We should write AD 2019.

Second, BCE = BC.

BCE means Before the Common Era.

BC means Before Christ was born.

Third, when we go from AD 2019 to back into the BC year, we have only 2018 years so far because of the first year when “Christ was born”. Actually, that year remarks as the year Christ was dead, and he reborn at the same time. Gne sorries in advance for who are Christian.

Fourth, calculate from the year Christ was born go back into the left side, we have the BCE years. And Astronomy was invented around 2500 BCE. ( At the time, Astronomy co-exist with Astrology)

Fifth, in total, we will go back 2018 + 2500 = 4518 years from our current calendar!!!

Okay sorry for little distraction. As Gne said, we go back 4518 years ago when the ancient human inverted the Astronomy and the Astrology at the same time.

Do you know where is the Mesopotamia by the way?

Well, it’s the name of one place in the ancient time, back to about 4518 years ago. If we compare it with the current world map, Mesopotamia would be located in SouthWest Asia. It surrounds the Tigris – Euphrates river system in Iraq country. (If you click on the link, it will open a new tab and it will lead you into the Wikipedia for learn more information just in case your curiosity 😛 )

In Mesopotamia, a lot of things are invented: some early civilizations (Akkad, Assyria, Babylonia, Sumer); writing system with picture illustrated; the wheel ; astronomy ; literature,etc.

Their main religion is believing in the GODS:

• AN – Lord of Heaven
• ENLIL – GOD of Airs and Storms
• ENKI – GOD of water and wisdom

As mention above, Astronomy is the science of observation the celestials and cosmic. It means back then, people believe that the Sun and other planets are GODS as well. The two civilizations – Sumer and Babylonia – are the inventors to Astronomy and Astrology.

For the ancient Astronomy, it contained the Astrology inside. It’s one man’s job: astrologers or some priests. They will observe the sky, the phenomena and tell the kings what is the GOD’S will. As you can imagine, the astrologers in the ancient time have much authority to involve to the human affairs.

And one of the most ancient astronomical record is the Lunar phases or another name is our Moon circle.

Modern Astronomy – A Scientific branch

After the ancient time, Astronomy co-existed with Astrology until the AD 16th, 17th century. With the Copernican revolution, Astronomy started to gain more attention and authority. Another side, Astrology lost the public interested. Some “big” guys helped to boost Astronomy:

• Galileo Galilei
• Johannes Kepler
• Isaac Newton

From there to 19th, and our 20th century, Modern Astronomy upgrades to one NEW level when scientists discovered some invisible lights ( X-Rays, gamma rays, radio waves, microwaves, ultraviolet radiation, and infrared radiation). Women astronomers contributed huge new discoveries to NASA.

With Modern Astronomy, we are discovering many things about the Cosmos, our galaxy, the outside galaxies, and so on.

Have you heard the current news about the Moon phases? Some astronomers – who work in NASA and those people share the similar task – predict that in next two days from this post – which is Sunday, January 20th AD 2019 – we can see the total Lunar eclipse.

The official name for the event from NASA: Total Lunar Eclipse 2019 PLUS A SUPER MOON.

At some places, the Sunday, January 20th might come to you before Gne. WIth a clear condition, you would see by your bare eyes the Moon’s total eclipse.

By the time, The Moon will slowly change the color into the red wine color. Perhaps reddish-orange under some women eyes -.- Sorry Gne is a male and sorry for confused you by the nickname.

Plus, one thing special about this year Lunar total eclipse. It’s Super Moon. It means we will see the Moon bigger than normal. Based on NASA, the Moon is moving into our Earth with the closest distance ever.

According to NASA,

• When we expect to see the Super Blood Moon: beginning at 6:36 p.m. PST (9:36 p.m. EST) on January 20th, 2019.
• ” At 8:41 p.m. PST (11:41 p.m. EST), the Moon will be completely inside the umbra, marking the beginning of the total lunar eclipse. The moment of greatest eclipse, when the Moon is halfway through the umbra, occurs at 9:12 p.m. PST (12:12 a.m. EST). ”
• Where we can see it clearly by our normal eyes: North and South America are the two best locations. The western part of Europe and Africa share the great view with North and South America. Other countries and cities, might have the visible view, but not the best 🙂 (one benefit of living in the Seattle area haha thank you, my grandpa, and thank you my oldest aunt for settle down their lives in Seattle city in 30 years ago. Thank you for giving me this chance to witness the astronomical event even you two are not interested about it!)

Here is the full article from NASA education about the Super Blood Lunar Eclipse 2019.

Short conclusion

In the ancient time (about 2500 BCE), Astronomy was born with Astrology as a twin. Their parents are Sumerians and Babylonians. The born place is Mesopotamia.

By the time, human inventions revolutions, distinguished Astronomy with Astrology. Modern Astronomy is one branch under the big Science. While Astrology is pseudoscience.

Even so, Gne is still interesting with Astrology 🙂 Just like Karma, Science can not explain into the roots.

P/S Disclosure: some links are external links which lead you into other authority sites. Some are affiliate link which leads you away from this post and enter the merchant front page. If you like the products/services, you can order for yourself to try. As you do that, the merchants share with Gne less than 5% of the total price as a small commission. In fact, it doesn’t cost you extra anything. It’s just between Gne and the merchants 🙂