This article focuses on this central story line. In doing so, there is regrettably little space for other fascinating branches of the history of astronomy. New World astronomy, for example, developed in complete independence but did not rise to so advanced a level.
Astronomy, science that encompasses the study of all extraterrestrial objects and phenomena. Since the late 19th century, astronomy has expanded to include astrophysics, the application of physical and chemical knowledge to an understanding of the nature of celestial objects.
Learn about the history of astronomy and the significant contributions of Ptolemy, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Isaac Newton Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Astronomy - Stars, Galaxies, Cosmology: In 1835 the French positivist philosopher Auguste Comte cited the chemical constitution of the stars as an example of knowledge that might be forever hidden.
Astronomy - Ancient Greece, Stars, Planets: Astronomy is present from the beginning of Greek literature. In Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, stars and constellations are mentioned, including Orion, the Great Bear (Ursa Major), Boötes, Sirius, and the Pleiades.
Since that time, telescopes have become central to astronomy. Having apertures much larger than the pupil of the human eye, telescopes permit the study of faint and distant objects.
Astronomy, science that encompasses the study of all extraterrestrial objects and phenomena. Until the invention of the telescope and the discovery of the laws of motion and gravity in the 17th century,...
Astronomy - Solar System, Planets, Stars: The solar system took shape 4.57 billion years ago, when it condensed within a large cloud of gas and dust. Gravitational attraction holds the planets in their elliptical orbits around the Sun.
The study of astronomy involves all of the objects outside Earth’s atmosphere. These include the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, galaxies, and all other matter in the universe.
German mathematician and astronomer Friedrich Bessel suggested that expulsion of material from a comet near perihelion was acting like a rocket motor and propelling the comet into a slightly shorter- (or longer-) period orbit each time it passed close to the Sun. History would prove Bessel right.
