Astronomy

 

Astronomy

The word “astronomy” comes from two Greek words “Astron” (ἄστρον) meaning star and “Nomos” (νόμος) meaning law, order or study. So, astronomy means “the study of stars and heavenly bodies.” It is the study of the sun, moon, stars, planets and the universe.

In Greek mythology, the stars and heavenly bodies were believed to be gods, goddesses or heroes placed in the sky. The Greeks created many stories to explain the origin of stars and constellations.

In Greek mythology, Uranus was the god of the sky. He was the husband of Gaia, the Earth goddess. Uranus covered the Earth like a dome and the stars were believed to exist in his body. The Greeks believed the sky and stars were living parts of the universe controlled by divine powers. This shows their early interest in studying the sky, which later became astronomy.

One of the most famous star stories is about Orion, a great hunter. Orion was strong and proud. After his death, the gods placed him in the sky as a group of stars called the Orion constellation.

This was done to honour his strength and bravery. Even today, the Orion constellation can be seen in the night sky. This story shows how the Greeks connected stars with human stories.

The Greeks believed that the sun was controlled by Helios. Every day, Helios drove his golden chariot across the sky from east to west, bringing light to the world. This myth explained the movement of the sun across the sky. Today, astronomy studies the sun scientifically but the Greeks explained it through mythology.

Selene – The Moon Goddess

The moon was represented by Selene, the moon goddess. She travelled across the night sky in her chariot, bringing moonlight.

This shows the Greek interest in observing the moon and understanding the night sky.

The Greek word “astron” means star, and mythology explained stars as gods and heroes placed in the sky. The Greeks carefully observed the sky and created stories to explain:

• Stars
• Sun
• Moon
• Sky

These observations later became the science of astronomy.

The word “astronomy” comes from the Greek words “astron,” meaning star, and “nomos,” meaning study. Therefore, astronomy means the study of stars, planets, and the universe, and its origin comes from the Greek word “astron,” meaning star.