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Credit & Copyright: Judy Tobin
Explanation:
Did observatories exist before
telescopes?
One example that
still stands today is the
Beijing Ancient Observatory in
China.
Starting in the 1400s astronomers erected large instruments
here to enable them to measure star and planet positions with
increasing accuracy.
Pre-telescopic observatories
throughout the world date back to before recorded
history, providing measurements that
helped to determine when to plant crops,
how to navigate ships, and when religious ceremonies
should occur.
It is interesting to compare the above picture to
one taken in 1895.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Observatory - ancient
Publications with words: Observatory - ancient
See also: