Redshift | The History of Astronomy
This is the history of the astronomers, astrologers, and stargazers, from a star's-eye view.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 15 minutes
- Episodes
- 10
- Years Active
- 2023
Charting the Future with the Stars: How Astronomers Predicted Heavenly Happenings
The ancients discovered the saros cycle - the pattern of eclipses.
With this, they knew the pattern of the heavens.
And thus, they had a sense of the future.
Today, we're investigating what else the anc…
With this, they knew the pattern of the heavens.
And thus, they had a sense of the future.
Today, we're investigating what else the anc…
00:16:38 |
Thu 16 Nov 2023
Outrunning the Planets: Retrograde Motion
When the world was at the center of the universe, the planets did a strange dance.
At times, it seemed they moved in reverse at times, doing a weird backward loop.
But this wasn't just a quirk.
It wasn'…
At times, it seemed they moved in reverse at times, doing a weird backward loop.
But this wasn't just a quirk.
It wasn'…
00:13:21 |
Thu 09 Nov 2023
Lucky Number: The Seven Classical Planets in Ancient History
The "wanderers" - or as they were known in Greek, the "planetes" - were held as being especially important against a backdrop of stationary beams of light.
Today, we're exploring their meanings.
Join u…
Today, we're exploring their meanings.
Join u…
00:16:19 |
Thu 02 Nov 2023
The Stars, the Mind, & Math: The Zairja
Medieval Arab astrologers devised a system aimed at producing new ideas.
It was called the zairja.
More than just a Magic 8 Ball, this system provided a new way of thinking about problems.
It'd prove i…
It was called the zairja.
More than just a Magic 8 Ball, this system provided a new way of thinking about problems.
It'd prove i…
00:17:03 |
Thu 26 Oct 2023
Astrology and Politics: How Stargazers Wrote History
Astrology was at the heart of big decisions in history.
Kings held counsel with those who knew how to read the stars.
How much of history was written based on these supposed predictions of the future?
W…
Kings held counsel with those who knew how to read the stars.
How much of history was written based on these supposed predictions of the future?
W…
00:16:37 |
Thu 19 Oct 2023
Ancient China: Messages from Heaven
To the ancient mind, the heavens were encoded with omens.
The movement of the planets, the timing of the constellations, the movement of the seasons - it all held a world of purpose.
And that was embod…
The movement of the planets, the timing of the constellations, the movement of the seasons - it all held a world of purpose.
And that was embod…
00:13:53 |
Thu 12 Oct 2023
Babylon: The Early Astronomers
The ancient world of Babylon is known for its mysteries.
Today, we're looking at what wisdom the ancient civilization has to share about the stars.
Get our full sonic encyclopedia - a series of shows…
Today, we're looking at what wisdom the ancient civilization has to share about the stars.
Get our full sonic encyclopedia - a series of shows…
00:24:01 |
Thu 05 Oct 2023
In Broad Daylight: How the Crab Nebula inspired astronomers six millennia after it died
In the grand scheme of the cosmos, it takes a while for light to get anywhere.
Today, we're taking a look at the depths of space.
And the impact that a month in 1054 had on the history of astronomy.
Ge…
Today, we're taking a look at the depths of space.
And the impact that a month in 1054 had on the history of astronomy.
Ge…
00:09:48 |
Thu 17 Aug 2023
Keeping the Time: The evolution of the calendar
Sure seems like the ways we pass the days, months, years - the way we measure time, it's so arbitrary, isn't it?
But what are the common threads -- how did this way we measure "signs and seasons" come…
But what are the common threads -- how did this way we measure "signs and seasons" come…
00:12:26 |
Thu 10 Aug 2023
The Constellation of History
We begin our journey by looking at the trails of stellar study throughout history.
How has the science changed over the generations?
Today, we're looking across the generations.
Get more podcasts at w…
How has the science changed over the generations?
Today, we're looking across the generations.
Get more podcasts at w…
00:11:07 |
Thu 03 Aug 2023
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