ASTR 49 Cultural Astronomy

Over time, many cultures have developed rich relationships with the night sky, with important implications for timekeeping, agriculture, navigation, and views about the nature of the universe and humanity’s place within it. This course explores the sky through the lens of several different historical traditions. Students analyze similarities and differences between these interpretations of naked-eye astronomy in the context of their historical origins. As the search for life beyond Earth intensifies, students are asked to explore how cultural comparisons may be used to add humanistic rigor to the scientific field of astrobiology. No prior knowledge of astronomy is required.