Astral Sciences in Ancient China

2018 ◽  
pp. 128-144
Author(s):  
Xu Fengxian
Keyword(s):  
Empty Space ◽  
Han Dynasty ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Space Theory ◽  
Ancient China ◽  
Star Catalogue ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The People ◽  
Solar Eclipses ◽  
Celestial Sphere

The chapter studies ancient Chinese astronomy, which focused on computing and predicting the movements of the heavens (天 tian), the sun, moon, stars, and asterisms, which was the duty of the rulers, in order that the people be well-regulated. Heavenly bodies were allocated to terrestrial zones, especially 28 constellations roughly along the equator or the ecliptic, the seven stars of the Big Dipper (regarded as the carriage of heaven), and the five planets. Unusual celestial phenomena were recorded, such as solar eclipses, comets, and meteorites. The 盖天 gai tian theory (celestial dome theory), the 浑天 hun tian Theory (celestial sphere theory) and the 宣夜 xuan ye theory (infinite empty space theory) were the three primary theories of the structure of the heaven and the earth, in the Han dynasty (202 bce—220 ce). The earliest extant Chinese star catalogue of the whole sky was composed in the 1st century bce, and the definitive constellation system of 283 constellations, 1464 or 1465 stars was composed in the 3rd century ce.

Addendum 2020 to ‘Measurement of the Earth’s rotation: 720 BC to AD 2015’

2021 ◽  
Vol 477 (2246) ◽  
pp. 20200776
Author(s):  
L. V. Morrison ◽  
F. R. Stephenson ◽  
C. Y. Hohenkerk ◽  
M. Zawilski
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Earth’S Rotation ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Earth's Rotation ◽  
Moon System ◽  
Link Type ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Solar Eclipses ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth

Historical reports of solar eclipses are added to our previous dataset (Stephenson et al. 2016 Proc. R. Soc. A 472 , 20160404 ( doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0404 )) in order to refine our determination of centennial and longer-term changes since 720 BC in the rate of rotation of the Earth. The revised observed deceleration is −4.59 ± 0.08 × 10 −22  rad s −2 . By comparison the predicted tidal deceleration based on the conservation of angular momentum in the Sun–Earth–Moon system is −6.39 ± 0.03 × 10 −22  rad s −2 . These signify a mean accelerative component of +1.8 ± 0.1 × 10 −22  rad s −2 . There is also evidence of an oscillatory variation in the rate with a period of about 14 centuries.

scholarly journals PMOE planetary/lunar ephemeris framework

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S248) ◽  
pp. 560-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Y. Li ◽  
H. B. Zhao ◽  
Y. Xia ◽  
F. Zeng ◽  
Y. J. Luo
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Earth Tide ◽  
Finite Size ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Ancient China ◽  
Lunar Phases ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Lunar Ephemeris

AbstractThe PMOE planetary/lunar ephemeris framework was established in 2003, and has been improved in recent years. In the framework of the post-Newtonian effects, the figure perturbation effects arising from the a finite size of the Sun, Moon and the Earth, and the effect of the Earth tide were taken into account. The accuracy of using the PMOE ephemeris to predict the positions of the planets in the solar system are the same as that of JPL DE 405. Based on this framework, the orbit optimization for the LISA, ASTROD and ASTROD I missions, and the computation of celestial phenomena and lunar phases in the Xia Shang and Zhou period of ancient China have been completed.

scholarly journals Work of Art of the Han Dynasty Unearthed in China and Observations of Solar Phenomena

1987 ◽  
Vol 91 ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
Xu Zhen-tao
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Han Dynasty ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Work Of Art ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
Works Of Art ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Solar Eclipses

In Chinese ancient times the Sun worship was in vogue. Mainly there were two sorts of the worship rites: 1) for rising and setting Sun; 2) for solar eclipses. Many evidences for Sun worship have been found in Chinese ancient books and bone inscriptions (Xu Zhentao et al.1985).The everyday worship to the Sun certainly caused spontaneous observations for solar phenomena. Since the ancients only had a limited knowledge they could not understand what were these phenomena and they, however, created many wonderful myths to describe them. These myths about Solar phenomena have vividly been expressed in the works of art of the Han Dynasty recently unearthed. So analysing the works of art we may trace the original phenomena of solar activity.

Introduction

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles F. Kennel
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Empty Space ◽  
Distinct Region ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Scientific Interest ◽  
Modern Language ◽  
Johannes Kepler ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Celestial Bodies ◽  
Roman Antiquity

In the year 1600, the the man about to become physician to Queen Elizabeth I of England published a long treatise summarizing his two decades of experimentation on magnetism. After disposing of such issues as whether garlic causes magnets to “lose their virtue” William Gilbert recounted his observations upon moving a compass over the surface of a permanent magnet that had been specially fashioned in the form of a sphere (Gilbert, 1893, 1958). The similarity between the compass readings on the surface of his magnet and those recorded in mariners’ charts led Gilbert to conclude that his magnet was a terrella, a little earth, and that our big earth is (among other things) a giant magnet. Gilbert’s little earth organized the pattern of compass readings not only on its surface but also in the space surrounding it. From this, he boldly asserted that the big earth’s magnetic influence continues far into empty space, where no mariner of his day could ever go. The profundity of this remark was not lost on Gilbert’s younger contemporary, Johannes Kepler, who found in it an explanation of the earth’s annual motion around the sun. Kepler reasoned more or less as follows (in modern language): Since the earth and the sun are both celestial bodies, they both should rotate, and they both should have magnetic fields surrounding them in space. Their two rotating fields interact somehow, somewhere, in the space between them, communicating the sun’s rotational motion to the earth and pushing the earth around its orbit. In this curious way, Kepler might have been the first to perceive that the sun acts upon terrestrial magnetism. He was not the last. In 1580, Kepler’s teacher, Michael Maestlin, had recorded an observation of a distinct region of oscillating luminosity in the northern sky, an aurora. The aurora had been a topic of scientific interest since Graeco-Roman antiquity [of particular importance was Aristotle’s (384-322 B.C.) discussion of it in his Meteorology], but it had become an object of superstition in the European Middle Ages, and scientific interest in it only began to re-emerge in the second half of the 16th century (Link, 1957).

Seti Space Missions

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 761-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Maccone
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Waves ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Gravitational Lens ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Space Antenna ◽  
Focal Distance ◽  
Large Space ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Space Antennas ◽  
New Space

AbstractSETI from space is currently envisaged in three ways: i) by large space antennas orbiting the Earth that could be used for both VLBI and SETI (VSOP and RadioAstron missions), ii) by a radiotelescope inside the Saha far side Moon crater and an Earth-link antenna on the Mare Smythii near side plain. Such SETIMOON mission would require no astronaut work since a Tether, deployed in Moon orbit until the two antennas landed softly, would also be the cable connecting them. Alternatively, a data relay satellite orbiting the Earth-Moon Lagrangian pointL2would avoid the Earthlink antenna, iii) by a large space antenna put at the foci of the Sun gravitational lens: 1) for electromagnetic waves, the minimal focal distance is 550 Astronomical Units (AU) or 14 times beyond Pluto. One could use the huge radio magnifications of sources aligned to the Sun and spacecraft; 2) for gravitational waves and neutrinos, the focus lies between 22.45 and 29.59 AU (Uranus and Neptune orbits), with a flight time of less than 30 years. Two new space missions, of SETI interest if ET’s use neutrinos for communications, are proposed.

Sense of Place in Place Making of Creative Multimedia Foundation Studies Annual Exhibition

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-56
Author(s):  
Elyna Amir Sharji ◽  
Lim Yan Peng ◽  
Peter Charles Woods ◽  
Vimala Perumal ◽  
Rose Linda Zainal Abidin
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Social Values ◽  
Empty Space ◽  
Design Criteria ◽  
Visitor Experience ◽  
Place Making ◽  
Individual Behaviour ◽  
The People

The challenge of transforming an empty space into a gallery setting takes on the concept of place making. A place can be seen as space that has meaning when the setting considers space, surroundings, contents, the people and its activities. This research concentrates on investigating how visitors perceive the space by gauging their sense of place (sense of belonging towards a place). Galleries are currently facing changes in this technological era whereby multiple content and context, space and form, display modes, tools and devices are introduced in one single space. An observational study was done during the Foundation Studies Annual Exhibition held at Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University. The exhibition was curated and managed by staff and students of Foundation Year showcasing an array of design works. Analogue and digital presentations of paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and video works were displayed.. The outcome of this research will contribute towards a better design criteria of place making which affects individual behaviour, social values and attitudes. Characterizing types of visitor experience will improve the understanding of a better design criteria of place making, acceptance, understanding and satisfaction.

Reinterpretasi Ayat-ayat “Kekerasan”

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-103
Author(s):  
Lina Aniqoh
Keyword(s):  
Historical Context ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Textual Interpretation ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The People ◽  
Double Movement ◽  
The Face

This paper seeks to elaborate on the textual interpretation of Q.S Muhammad verse 4 and Q.S at Taubah verse 5. These two verses are often employed by the extremist Muslim groups to legitimize their destructive acts carried out on groups considered as being infidels and as such lawfully killed. The interpretation was conducted using the double movement hermeneutics methodology offered by Fazlur Rahman. After reinterpretation, the two verses contain moral values, namely the war ordered by God must be reactive, fulfill the ethics of "violence" and be the last solution. Broadly speaking, the warfare commanded in the Qur'an aims to establish a benefit for humanity on the face of the earth by eliminating every crime that exists. These two verses in the contemporary socio-historical context in Indonesia can be implemented as a basis for combating the issue of hoaxes and destructive acts of extremist Muslim groups. Because both are crimes and have negative implications for the people good and even able to threaten the unity of mankind.

Spots on the Sun and Life on the Earth

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
Valentina V. Ukraintseva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Sun ◽  
The Earth

Much Ado about (Practically) Nothing

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Atomic Nucleus ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Scientific Journals ◽  
Rare Gases ◽  
Important Work ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Life On Mars ◽  
The Universe

There are eight columns in the Periodic Table. The eighth column is comprised of the rare gases, so-called because they are the rarest elements on earth. They are also called the inert or noble gases because, like nobility, they do no work. They are colorless, odorless, invisible gases which do not react with anything, and were thought to be unimportant until the early 1960s. Starting in that era, David Fisher has spent roughly fifty years doing research on these gases, publishing nearly a hundred papers in the scientific journals, applying them to problems in geophysics and cosmochemistry, and learning how other scientists have utilized them to change our ideas about the universe, the sun, and our own planet. Much Ado about (Practically) Nothing will cover this spectrum of ideas, interspersed with the author's own work which will serve to introduce each gas and the important work others have done with them. The rare gases have participated in a wide range of scientific advances-even revolutions-but no book has ever recorded the entire story. Fisher will range from the intricacies of the atomic nucleus and the tiniest of elementary particles, the neutrino, to the energy source of the stars; from the age of the earth to its future energies; from life on Mars to cancer here on earth. A whole panoply that has never before been told as an entity.

Dombey and Son

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Dickens ◽  
Dennis Walder
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Novel ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Future ◽  
Original Illustrations ◽  
The One

Dombey and Son ... Those three words conveyed the one idea of Mr. Dombey's life. The earth was made for Dombey and Son to trade in, and the sun and moon were made to give them light.' The hopes of Mr Dombey for the future of his shipping firm are centred on his delicate son Paul, and Florence, his devoted daughter, is unloved and neglected. When the firm faces ruin, and Dombey's second marriage ends in disaster, only Florence has the strength and humanity to save her father from desolate solitude. This new edition contains Dickens's prefaces, his working plans, and all the original illustrations by ‘Phiz’. The text is that of the definitive Clarendon edition. It has been supplemented by a wide-ranging Introduction, highlighting Dickens's engagement with his times, and the touching exploration of family relationships which give the novel added depth and relevance.

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