Archaeoastronomy

Answers

WORSHIPPING SKY OBJECTS

1. Archaeoastronomy: The use of astronomy by the ancients to monitor the positions of heavenly bodies for practical purposes (establishing a calendar, predicting eclipses).

2. formation of a calendar to monitor a) agricultural activities, b) religious ceremonies,
c) governmental activities

3. They were a) bright, b) changed positions in the sky, and c) the sun was responsible for life.

MOTIONS OF THE "HOLY" SEVEN

4. The moon went through a series of phases in a shorter period of time (one month) than the cycle of the sun (one year). A shorter lunar phase period was easier to observe.

5. The phase period of the moon (29.5 days) did not result in a whole number when divided into the year (365.24 days). Fractions were meaningless to ancient cultures. If a planting occurred at the time of the full moon on the last day in April, would farmers be sowing their seeds at the same time next year? No! The phase of the moon and the seasonal dates did not mesh consistently.

6. a) duration of daylight changes, b) rising and setting positions of the sun change, c) altitude of sun above horizon changes

7. a) stationary observer monitors a moving sun, b) moving observer keeps the sun rising at the same location by changing his/her position

BASIC DEFINITIONS

8. rotation

9. revolution

10. axial tilt, 23 ½

11. 365.24 days, 23 hours 56 minutes

UNDERSTANDING THE SEASONS

12. inclination

13. 23 ½, NEVER

14. seasons

15. points in the same direction

16. The flashlight beam must be perpendicular to the wall, LARGER

17. angle

18. LESS, axial tilt

THE EQUATORIAL GRID

19. latitude, longitude

20. latitude, longitude

21. equatorial coordinate

22. celestial equator, declination, right ascension

23. + or -, celestial

24. celestial equator, ecliptic, vernal equinox, spring

25. ecliptic, ecliptic

26. 23 ½°

27. 23 ½°, +23 ½°, -23 ½°

28. June 21st, December 21st, summer solstice, winter solstice

29. summer solstice, winter solstice

30. 47°, It is twice the angular amount of the earth's axial inclination.

31. 70

32. the seasons

33. a) Tropic of Cancer = 23 ½° N. lat., Tropic of Capricorn = 23 ½° S. lat. Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn are 23 ½° from the equator. b) Arctic Circle = 66 ½° N. lat., Antarctic Circle = 66 ½° S. lat. Arctic/Antarctic circles are 23 ½° from their respective terrestrial poles.

34. east, west, 0°

35. north, north

36. south

37. 0°

STONEHENGE

38. England, about 90 miles to the west of London

39. three, 3000 BC, 2000 BC

40. sarsens

41. lintels

42. trilithons

43. heel stone, -23 ½°

44. Aubrey holes

45. ditch and bank

46. avenue

47. great fallen trilithon in the southwest

48. great standing trilithon in the southeast

49. a) monitoring the season, b) establishing a calendar

THE JULIAN AND GREGORIAN CALENDARS

50. rotation, phase, revolution

51. tropical

52. phase, SHORTER

53. sun (year), intercalation

54. Roman, intercalated

55. Julius Caesar

56. Julian

57. 365¼, one, leap years

58. EARLIER

59. Christmas, Gregory, 400, Gregorian