Seeing stars.(astronomical observatories)

Calliope | February 1, 2007| | Copyright

The ancient Chinese believed that celestial phenomena had a deep impact on all aspects of life, including politics. For example, in one of the 25 official dynastic histories, we read that solar eclipses foretell that government officials will attempt to usurp imperial power. Clearly, heavenly matters were considered important, and Chinese astronomy was highly regarded as a government service.

As early as the fourth century B.C., imperial astronomers noted spots on the sun by looking through thin pieces of jade. Modern scholars have found 112 sunspots recorded between ...

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