Intro to Astronomy

Astronomy is something remarkable. It is a field that has existed, albeit inadvertently, since the very earliest moments of human consciousness. Before there was math, language or science, there was astronomy. But before we move on, let's test your knowledge a bit.

Now that you know what astronomy is, let's explore what you can study as an astronomer.

As an astronomer you are not honor bound to study stars; there are innumerable aspects of this field that beg for exploration.

You could search for exoplanets orbiting foreign stars. You might want to study the origins and evolution of our universe, a sub-field which we call cosmology. Or maybe you are interested in the spacetime-rending gravitational power of black holes.

Whatever sub-field you choose, if any, you must be commended for your commitment to understanding the secret workings of our universe.

Keep exploring the astronomy section of expii to learn more!

Astronomy is the oldest science, with the first observations of the heavens conducted by our early human ancestors. Historical records of astronomical measurements date back as far as Mesopotamia nearly 5000 years ago, with later observations made by the ancient Chinese, Babylonians, and Greeks. Humans seek to explain their world with (internal) models; one of the earliest is that the affairs of humans and the world are controlled by the positions of the stars and planets. Although astrology is now regarded as a psuedoscience, it was the original motivation for the mapping of the stars and the assignment of constellations.

Astronomy is more than simply a mapping of stars and planets into outlines of gods and magical creatures. It is the scientific study of the contents of entire Universe stars, planets, comets, asteroids, galaxies, and space and time as well as its history. Astronomers might ask themselves questions like: Is the Universe expanding, shrinking, or unchanging? Does the Universe have a beginning? An end? How much matter is there in the Universe? What are stars and how are they born and how do they die How are planets formed? How are galaxies formed? What are comets and what is their composition? Are there other planets besides the ones in our solar system, and if so, do any of them harbor life?

Indian astronomy https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_astronomy