Ancient Astronomers ?

[Astro Noodles]

I read that the people who painted the animals in the cave at Lascaux 17,000 years ago interpreted the constellation of Taurus as a bull (or an Aurochs). It has been suggested that the sequence of dots around it's eye are a representation of the Hyades with Aldebaran as the beast's eye. Over it's shoulder are the Pleiades.

I think it a bit of a stretch to come to this conclusion, but not inconceivable. Assuming of course that the stars have conveniently staid in roughly the same position for all that time.

[Steve Ward]

19 minutes ago, Astro Noodles said:

Assuming of course that the stars have conveniently staid in roughly the same position for all that time.

 

Taurus et al from 17,000BC ... 

 

[ScouseSpaceCadet]

If you're interested in indigenous & ancient peoples' interpretation of the sky,  Liverpool AS hosted a smashing guest speaker earlier this year; Prof. Karim Jaffer RASC.

 

[Alien 13]

21 hours ago, Astro Noodles said:

I read that the people who painted the animals in the cave at Lascaux 17,000 years ago interpreted the constellation of Taurus as a bull (or an Aurochs). It has been suggested that the sequence of dots around it's eye are a representation of the Hyades with Aldebaran as the beast's eye. Over it's shoulder are the Pleiades.

I think it a bit of a stretch to come to this conclusion, but not inconceivable. Assuming of course that the stars have conveniently staid in roughly the same position for all that time.

Looks about right to me..

Alan

[Zeta Reticulan]

What fascinates me the most is that this constellation (Taurus) seems to have been identified with a bull/aurochs so long ago. I think I can just about see the 'bull' in Taurus. I can see the lion in 'Leo'. Not so sure about any of the other zodiacal signs. 

[Second Time Around]

Scorpion in Scorpius for me.

[Zeta Reticulan]

20 minutes ago, Second Time Around said:

Scorpion in Scorpius for me.

Tail's a bit low for me. The claw on the other hand contains a great double.

[markse68]

2 hours ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

The claw on the other hand contains a great double.

Which one?

[Zeta Reticulan]

22 minutes ago, markse68 said:

Which one?

You can see Beta Scorpii (aka Graffias, Acrab) marked with a reticule in the picture above. It's one of my favourites. 

[markse68]

Thanks- added to list though Sco is very low now

Mark

[Zeta Reticulan]

12 minutes ago, markse68 said:

Thanks- added to list though Sco is very low now

Mark

You're welcome. It's a spring thing for me. If you can find Antares it's pretty easy to spot. I usually only have a few weeks of window before it's too low for me.

[markse68]

BTW, I’ve been reading about a “double double” in Sco- Sh 225 and Sh 226. Trouble is Skysafari doesn’t recognise those designators. Don’t suppose you know what catalogue Sh is or alternative designators?

Mark

[Zeta Reticulan]

10 minutes ago, markse68 said:

BTW, I’ve been reading about a “double double” in Sco- Sh 225 and Sh 226. Trouble is Skysafari doesn’t recognise those designators. Don’t suppose you know what catalogue Sh is or alternative designators?

Mark

I think it refers to the Sharpless Catalogue.

Edited September 4, 2022 by Zeta Reticulan

[markse68]

26 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

I think it refers to the Sharpless Catalogue.

Sharpless seems to be a catalogue of nebulously like the Messier catalogue though rather than stars. It’s got me stumped- I’ve looked on SS in the vicinity of where they should be according to the descriptions but there’s nothing there that i can find 🤷‍♂️ Simbad doesn’t like them either

Mark

Maybe Shapley? 🤔

Edited September 4, 2022 by markse68

[globular]

1 hour ago, markse68 said:

BTW, I’ve been reading about a “double double” in Sco- Sh 225 and Sh 226. Trouble is Skysafari doesn’t recognise those designators. Don’t suppose you know what catalogue Sh is or alternative designators?

Mark

They are in Skysafari under SHJ 225 and SHJ 226.

I think SHJ is the catalogue designation of James South (1785-1867). 

Edited September 4, 2022 by globular

[markse68]

Thanks Glob!

Mark

[maw lod qan]

Do you think the ancient Astronomers were looked upon as some one special?

With that time being still hunting and gathering would they have been relied on for when and where to focus their attempts at finding food.

Regardless, it is astonishing how so much of mankind's past was spent looking into the night skies.

[Zeta Reticulan]

53 minutes ago, markse68 said:

Sharpless seems to be a catalogue of nebulously like the Messier catalogue though rather than stars. It’s got me stumped- I’ve looked on SS in the vicinity of where they should be according to the descriptions but there’s nothing there that i can find 🤷‍♂️ Simbad doesn’t like them either

Mark

Maybe Shapley? 🤔

Yeah, there are too many catalogues if you ask me lol.

[Zeta Reticulan]

4 minutes ago, maw lod qan said:

Do you think the ancient Astronomers were looked upon as some one special?

With that time being still hunting and gathering would they have been relied on for when and where to focus their attempts at finding food.

Regardless, it is astonishing how so much of mankind's past was spent looking into the night skies.

I think they had less light pollution.

[Zeta Reticulan]

15 minutes ago, globular said:

They are in Skysafari under SHJ 225 and SHJ 226.

Cool.

[Zeta Reticulan]

[globular]

That's the fella. Hop and a skip from M80, a nice globular.

[Zeta Reticulan]

1 minute ago, globular said:

That's the fella. Hop and a skip from M80, a nice globular.

Well, soon be spring lol.

[markse68]

10 hours ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

Yeah, there are too many catalogues if you ask me lol.

btw, found out what catalogue SH/SHJ refers to- South and Herschel. https://bestdoubles.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/references-for-historical-double-star-information/

(Original catalogue with comments in link)

Skysafari refers to these stars as South 225 and 226

Mark

[Carbon Brush]

On 04/09/2022 at 22:45, maw lod qan said:

Do you think the ancient Astronomers were looked upon as some one special?

With that time being still hunting and gathering would they have been relied on for when and where to focus their attempts at finding food.

Regardless, it is astonishing how so much of mankind's past was spent looking into the night skies.

Yes I would say so. Appearance of certain stars 💫 above the horizon can be (and I'm sure was) used to advise on planting time, etc. 🌽 Long after hunter-gatherers settled into farming.
In certain countries, the time of year (measured by stars) could be used to advise an impending annual river flood, or a useful 🐅🍖 animal migration.
Lunar study 🌛 would help coastal dwellers understand when to expect a tide - and when to expect a big tide - nobody knew or cared why.🦀
Now we look at the calendar on our phones and buy food from a supermarket.🤔
Those who look at the night sky are just odd🤣