| “ | And yet it moves! | ” |
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– Galileo's saying when forced to say the Sun orbits the Earth | ||
What is Astronomy?[]
Astronomy is the scientific study of phenomena and naturally existing celestial objects (galaxies, planets, moons). It comprises the branches of mathematics, physics, chemistry and meteorology.
Astronomy is the oldest science as was recorded by Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Chinese, Maya and other ancient civilisations and was used by the observation of the Nightsky. In the past, astronomy is disciplined as astrometry, celestial navigation, and observational astronomy. Until the invention of the telescope in the 17th century, astronomy was originally used for noting and for calendrical and astrological purposes and later for navigational uses and scientific interest. Since the late 19th century, astronomy has expanded to include astrophysics, the science of physical and chemical knowledge and processes that control their formation, evolution, radiation and the belief that the alignment of stars and planets affects every individual's mood, personality, and environment. In the 20th century, professional astronomy split into observation astronomy and theoretical astrophysics. Astronomy is one of the few roles where amateur astronomers can play a common role, for example, George Alcock who discovered who discovered comets and novae.
History of astronomy[]
Astronomy was the first natural science to reach a high level of sophistication and predictive ability, which it achieved already in the second half of the 1st millennium BC. Early cultures noted gods and spirits create celestial objects and they cause the happenings of weather.
Branches of Astronomy[]
Astronomy comprises 4 major branches which are as follows:
- ASTROPHYSICS: Applying the laws of physics in space
- ASTROMETRY: Mapping celestial bodies
- ASTROGEOLOGY: Examining rocks, terrain, and material in space
- ASTROBIOLOGY: Searching for life outside Earth
These four branches can be further categorized into 17 branches. [1]
There's also another branch of astronomy that deals with photography. It's called Astrophotography. Astrophotography is the art of capturing the night sky using modern equipment such as DSLR cameras and sophisticated telescopes. One can photograph the moon and some bright stars with their phone, but the details of a celestial body are not visible in the pictures captured using a cellphone. [2]