The Sky’s the Limit: Astronomy in Antiquity

Abstract

Ancient people looked to the skies to make sense of the world. Following the stars allowed people to predict the change of seasons, track time and create calendars. Sailors, as they struck out across the seas, used the night sky to guide their path. Architects designed tombs and temples to align with celestial beings for superstitious and practical reasons. Astronomy and astrology systematised these observation. The exhibition included information and objects from Ancient Britain, Australian Aboriginal, Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Persian cultures. It also considered the re-awakening of astronomical research in the Renaissance.