Ancient Observational Astronomy: Oracle Bone Stars to Dunhuang Chart
Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/3. Astronomy & Planetary Science/01. Stellar Astrophysics • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
Ancient observational astronomy in East Asia and the Islamic world, from oracle bone eclipse records to the Dunhuang Star Chart and Islamic observatories, showcasing systematic celestial mapping and key discoveries.
Chronological Storyline (36 Milestones)
1500 BCE
Oracle Bone Eclipse Records
Shang dynasty oracle bones record solar and lunar eclipses, among the earliest known astronomical observations. #astronomy #history
Oracle Bone Eclipse Records By Unknown author - User Herr Klugbeisser on de.wikipedia Geschossen von im Shanghai-Museum, Januar 2004 Created and published under the GFDL by User Herr Klugbeisser Originally from de.wikipedia; description page is (was) here 18:41, 2. Mai 2004 Herr Klugbeisser 800 x 800 (91585 Byte) (Orakelknochen), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38023
1200 BCE
Chinese Eclipse Records on Oracle Bones
Oracle bones from the Shang dynasty include inscriptions of solar eclipses, demonstrating early systematic observation. #astronomy #China
720 BCE
First Recorded Solar Eclipse in Chinese Annals
The Spring and Autumn Annals record a solar eclipse, one of the earliest continuous eclipse records. #astronomy #history
First Recorded Solar Eclipse in Chinese Annals By AnonymousUnknown author - Replica before 1938, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9903668
613 BCE
Earliest Record of Halley's Comet
Chinese astronomers record Halley's Comet in the Zuo Zhuan, the earliest confirmed observation. #astronomy #comet
Earliest Record of Halley's Comet By NASA/W. Liller - NSSDC's Photo Gallery (NASA): http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/photo_gallery/photogallery-comets.html http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/image/planetary/comet/lspn_comet_halley1.jpg, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=544352
400 BCE
Gan De's Star Catalog
Chinese astronomer Gan De compiles a star catalog, possibly including observations of Jupiter's moons. #astronomy #China
350 BCE
Shi Shen's Star Catalog
Shi Shen creates one of the earliest star catalogs, listing over 800 stars. #astronomy #China
Shi Shen's Star Catalog By NASA - https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5487, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61171516
240 BCE
Chinese Record of Halley's Comet
Chinese annals record Halley's Comet, providing the longest continuous record of the comet. #astronomy #comet
134 BCE
Hipparchus Observes Nova
Greek astronomer Hipparchus observes a nova, leading him to create a star catalog. #astronomy #Greece
Hipparchus Observes Nova By William Henry Smyth - George F. Chambers, A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy, Vol. 3 (4th ed.) https://archive.org/details/handbookofdescri0003geor/page/n10/mode/1up, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134619278
28 BCE
Earliest Sunspot Observation
Chinese astronomers record sunspots in the Book of Han, the earliest known observation. #astronomy #sun
Earliest Sunspot Observation By NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News092511-ar1302.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16800815
185 CE
Supernova SN 185 Recorded
Chinese astronomers observe a supernova (SN 185), the earliest recorded supernova. #astronomy #supernova
Supernova SN 185 Recorded By CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) - DECam Images RCW 86, Remains of Supernova Witnessed in 185, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=129197422
393 CE
Supernova SN 393 Recorded
Chinese astronomers record a supernova in the constellation Scorpius. #astronomy #supernova
Supernova SN 393 Recorded By Torsten Bronger. - Own work: It was created by Torsten Bronger using the program PP3 on 2003/08/18. At PP3's homepage, you also get the input scripts necessary for re-compiling the map., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26667
499 CE
Aryabhata's Astronomical Work
Indian astronomer Aryabhata writes the Aryabhatiya, describing a heliocentric model and accurate planetary positions. #astronomy #India
Aryabhata's Astronomical Work By Cpjha13 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49883192
773 CE
Indian Astronomy Reaches Baghdad
An Indian astronomical text, the Siddhanta, is brought to the Abbasid court, influencing Islamic astronomy. #astronomy #Islam
813 CE
House of Wisdom Established
Caliph al-Ma'mun establishes the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, a center for astronomical translation and research. #astronomy #Islam
House of Wisdom Established By Zereshk - Own work, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2809505
829 CE
Al-Ma'mun's Observatory
Caliph al-Ma'mun builds an observatory in Baghdad, where astronomers measure the Earth's circumference. #astronomy #Islam
Al-Ma'mun's Observatory By Classical Numismatic Group; [1] - https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=201200, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33419858
850 CE
Al-Farghani's Compendium
Al-Farghani writes 'Elements of Astronomy', summarizing Ptolemaic astronomy and influencing Europe. #astronomy #Islam
Al-Farghani's Compendium By Roland Unger - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22677452
900 CE
Al-Battani's Astronomical Tables
Al-Battani publishes accurate astronomical tables, improving on Ptolemy's calculations. #astronomy #Islam
Al-Battani's Astronomical Tables By unknown, copied from a work by Al-Battani - https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b52505729k/f161.item.zoom# - a Latin translation of al-Battani's work Kitāb az-Zīj aṣ-Ṣābi’, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128222946
964 CE
Al-Sufi's Book of Fixed Stars
Al-Sufi publishes the Book of Fixed Stars, describing constellations and the Andromeda Galaxy. #astronomy #Islam
Al-Sufi's Book of Fixed Stars By Albrecht Dürer - File:Albrecht_Dürer,_The_Northern_Celestial_Hemisphere,_1515,_NGA_43181.jpg, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=131171930
Alhazen's Optical Research By Adolph Boÿ, engraved by Jeremias Falck. Used as the frontispiece to Johannes Hevelius, Selenographia, 1647 - https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbctos.2017rosen1321/?sp=9&r=0.059,0.617,0.327,0.182,0, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165125519
1006 CE
Supernova SN 1006 Recorded
Chinese and Islamic astronomers observe a brilliant supernova (SN 1006), the brightest in recorded history. #astronomy #supernova
Supernova SN 1006 Recorded By Smithsonian Institution - https://www.flickr.com/photos/25053835@N03/2940666879/in/photolist-5tRFP6-avs4hH-6JHxst-ehJDeH-7owauz-4NC1Me-cMi4E1-7Dhfo3-avrgBx-eokkqh-7DhH5q-8ajz1T-75AgWF-dHvEBe-cXXbgy-dGNSPX-dGNSzH-dGUk8S-dGUjTd-dGUjDU-avKM2D-afkfBd-8kNJEu-cE13Vs-cE1423-cE148S-cE145f-cE13YJ-drZjvP-7MTuTd-ffWzke-9Uhs6J-dWHrNy-dWHrLE-dWBNu6-dWBNU2-dWBNrv-dWBNAR-dWHrzb-dWBNwn-dWHrv1-dWBNGi-dWHrJy-dWBNLB-dWHrDW-da9SvS-9E412Y-7DeD7V-5B6PNC-dWHrdb-dWHrkd, No restrictions, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27561757
1054 CE
Supernova 1054 (Crab Nebula)
Chinese astronomers record a 'guest star' (SN 1054) that creates the Crab Nebula, later studied by modern astronomers. #astronomy #supernova
Supernova 1054 (Crab Nebula) By NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University) - HubbleSite: gallery, release., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=516106
1070 CE
Shen Kuo's Astronomical Writings
Chinese polymath Shen Kuo writes about astronomical instruments and records observations of the Crab Nebula. #astronomy #China
Shen Kuo's Astronomical Writings By Hans A. Rosbach - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=89508454
1088 CE
Su Song's Astronomical Clock Tower
Chinese engineer Su Song builds a water-driven astronomical clock tower with an armillary sphere. #astronomy #China
Su Song's Astronomical Clock Tower By Su Song - File:Clock_Tower_from_Su_Song's_Book.JPG, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41581041
1128 CE
Dunhuang Star Chart Created
The Dunhuang Star Chart, one of the oldest surviving star maps, is created, showing over 1,300 stars. #astronomy #China
Dunhuang Star Chart Created By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=577062
1181 CE
Supernova SN 1181 Recorded
Chinese and Japanese astronomers observe a supernova (SN 1181) in Cassiopeia. #astronomy #supernova
Supernova SN 1181 Recorded By X-ray: (Chandra) NASA/CXC/U. Manitoba/C. Treyturik, (XMM-Newton) ESA/C. Treyturik; Optical: (Pan-STARRS) NOIRLab/MDM/Dartmouth/R. Fesen; Infrared: (WISE) NASA/JPL/Caltech/; Image Processing: Univ. of Manitoba/Gilles Ferrand and Jayanne English - SNR 1181: Stunning Echo of 800-year-old Explosion, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=182110189
1252 CE
Alfonsine Tables Published
Under Alfonso X of Castile, astronomers compile the Alfonsine Tables, based on Islamic and Greek sources. #astronomy #Europe
Alfonsine Tables Published By Unknown author, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=777363
1259 CE
Maragheh Observatory Founded
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi establishes the Maragheh Observatory in Persia, a major research center. #astronomy #Islam
Maragheh Observatory Founded By ایوب فارابی اصل - https://web.archive.org/web/20161021102250/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/58601653, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16644829
1272 CE
Ilkhanic Tables Completed
Al-Tusi and colleagues complete the Ilkhanic Tables, accurate planetary tables used for centuries. #astronomy #Islam
1277 CE
Condemnation of 1277
The Bishop of Paris condemns Aristotelian doctrines, indirectly encouraging alternative astronomical models. #astronomy #Europe
Condemnation of 1277 By Étienne Tempier (also: Stephanus of Orleans) (Uploaded by Stephan Dinkgreve) - https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b9078319v/f70.item, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=192011542
1300 CE
Chinese Star Maps Flourish
Chinese astronomers create detailed star maps, including the Suzhou star chart engraved on stone. #astronomy #China
1360 CE
Ibn al-Shatir's Lunar Model
Islamic astronomer Ibn al-Shatir develops a lunar model that eliminates the need for an equant, influencing Copernicus. #astronomy #Islam
Ibn al-Shatir's Lunar Model By Ibn al-Shatir' - http://www.ccvalg.pt/astronomia/historia/idade_media.htm, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68523671
1400 CE
Ulugh Beg's Observatory
Ulugh Beg builds an observatory in Samarkand, producing the most accurate star catalog of the medieval period. #astronomy #Islam
Ulugh Beg's Observatory By Victoria - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=166865312
1437 CE
Ulugh Beg's Star Catalog
Ulugh Beg's Zij-i Sultani star catalog is completed, with over 1,000 stars and precise positions. #astronomy #Islam
1472 CE
Regiomontanus Observes Comet
German astronomer Regiomontanus observes a comet and attempts to measure its distance. #astronomy #Europe
Regiomontanus Observes Comet By Smithsonian "Print Artist: Braeht" (wobei die Bildsignatur eher Brühl sculps[it] zeigt, evtl. Johann Benjamin Brühl (1691-1763) ) - Smithsonian Institution Libraries Digital Collection Full size image, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179114
1490 CE
Korean Astronomical Instruments
Korean astronomers under King Sejong develop advanced astronomical instruments and calendars. #astronomy #Korea
Maya Astronomical Codices By Unknown author - From http://www.famsi.org/mayawriting/codices/dresden.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=365638
