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A New Approach To Traditional Chinese Astronomy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 August 2017

J. Kistemaker  and
Yang Zhengzong
J. Kistemaker
Affiliation:
FOM-Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Yang Zhengzong
Affiliation:
FOM-Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Kruislaan 407, 1098 SJ Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Abstract

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We have made a systematic investigation of the traditional Chinese stellar sky, using Yi-Shitong's precise stellar maps at the Amsterdam Zeiss Planetarium, reproducing the positions of pole, hour circles and equator for any epoch between 1000 and 3000 BC at the latitude of Xian.

The right ascensions of the 28 boundary hour circles of the traditional lunar lodges, as well as the declinations of the various determinative stars, give insight into the possible original meaning of star names and ages. The four cardinal directions along the celestial equator (α Hya, η Tau, β Aqr and Sco) fit best with 2250±50 years BC.

Type
Part I: Historical Research
Information
Symposium - International Astronomical Union , Volume 133: Mapping the Sky: Past Heritage and Future Directions , 1988 , pp. 23 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1988 

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