Studying the Universe
Since ancient times, people have studied heavenly bodies. Astronomers of the past knew only about the objects they could see with just their eyes or with basic telescopes. Today, astronomers have powerful telescopes, computers, and many other tools to help them learn about the universe.
Early Sky-watchers
In ancient times, most people had no way of knowing what was beyond the furthest mountain they could see. To help explain what the world looked like, they made up stories.
One ancient Eastern legend said that the world was flat and rested on the backs of four elephants. The elephants all stood on a huge tortoise, and the tortoise stood on an even bigger serpent. And the serpent? He floated on the surface of an endless ocean.
In ancient India, people believed Earth was a flat disc surrounded by an ocean. A layer above Earth held the clouds. The sky formed another layer above the clouds. The heavenly bodies moved around the sky in chariots drawn by horses. A huge dome-shaped shell surrounded and protected all three layers.
The ancient Egyptians believed in a sky goddess named Nut. Nut, it was said, supported the heavens on her back.
To the ancient Navajo, who lived in a hot dry desert, the rainbow was a god. The sky was their father who watched over them.
Picture Credit : Google
