Astronomy

Astronomy is the science of observing the heavens. It has been studied since ancient times, forming a major part of the pagan religions of many early civilizations such as the Egyptians and the Aztecs. The great stone henge at Stonehenge in England is also thought to be an astronomical observatory. The handing down of complex astronomical teachings shows these early cultures must have had formalized systems of education, and thus qualifies them as true civilizations in their own right.

Astronomy was crucial to the development of safe and accurate navigation for ships, and observations of the movement of heavenly bodies lead to the theories we know call physics. In fact astronomy and physics are still somewhat merged, some scientists calling themselves astrophysicists.

EXTERNAL LINKS

The NASA Homepage
The NASA Planetary Photojournal
American Astronomical Society
British Astronomical Association A guide on how to start