Astronomy Essay

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Astronomy: An In-Depth Look From Origin to Present Day
Of all the sciences that seek to explain the rules that govern our world (astronomy, chemistry, earth science, physics, and biology), astronomy has existed the longest. It is naturally connected with religion and mythology due to the mystery of the cosmos. According to Plato, “astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another” (Brainy Quotes). Consequently, humans have been fascinated with the stars for countless millennia. This fascination evolved from pre-historic cultures worshipping solar eclipses to modern astronomy clubs like the Astronomy Society at UCF studying the birth of stars that are millions of light years away.
The Genesis: Babylonians and Stonehenge
Recorded human history does not begin until Mesopotamia and the Akkadian Empire in 3500 BC. However it is safe to say that even before this time, as soon as Homo sapiens were able to contemplate about things other than survival and sex, astronomy was somehow involved in their way of life. Whether it be simply worshipping the sun or praying to a certain constellation, prehistoric civilizations indirectly studied the cosmos. It is also likely that early man was scared of the night sky because it was so overwhelmingly large and unpredictable. Nevertheless, the first recorded practice of astronomy coincides with the beginning of recorded human history. Babylonia was a nation state in Mesopotamia and as such, Babylonians became one of the first human civilizations to have a clear record of their existence.
The Babylonians first contributions were star catalogues. These are big lists of constellations, stars, and planets. The Babylonians also recorded celestial phenomena, such as ecli...

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...d series were and are incredibly important in exposing the general public to astronomy. When presented in a novel way, astronomy immediately becomes understandable and inviting to anyone.
Present Day
When I am at the Robinson Observatory with the Astronomy Society at UCF, I cannot stop looking through the telescopes. Each star I look at has its own story. Every galaxy I look at is an incomprehensibly large structure filled with billions of stars. When I look up to the sky at the night, it is incredible to think that I am doing something that primitive men were doing at night as well. And even though we have learned a tremendous amount of information about our universe since the dawn of civilization, we still know very little in the grand scheme of things; and in that way, I am directly connected with the first cave man that arched his neck to ponder the night sky.

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