Saturday, July 21, 2012

celestial spheres in history and the unicorn


Atlas of Astronomy, Ball 1892

Deutsch map of celestial sphere

La Fin du monde, 1931

Sun in Zodiac, finding polaris
Math Techniques



































A fascination throughout centuries of astronomy, navigation, and astrology is to ground ourselves with space and time.  Celestial spheres are merely the beginning of my search for gravity.

"The first question concerning the Celestial Bodies is whether there be a system, that is, whether the world or universe compose together one globe, with a center, or whether the particular globes of earth and stars be scattered dispersedly, each on its own roots, without any system or common center."
-Francis Bacon, 'Novum Organum', 1620

The celestial sphere is an imaginary sphere surrounding the earth from an observer on earth.  All the objects in the observer's sky can be thought of as projected upon the inside surface of the celestial sphere allowing them to plot positions of objects in the sky.

"The whole universe is a mystery.  Humans have come up with systems, diagrams and classifications in an attempt to grasp the infinity within logic and comprehension.  Also, to make sense of the celestial sphere composed of stars, men (and women) throughout history have grouped them up into constellations constructing a map layered with mythology and meaning.  Despite the disparity of dimension, our lives can be relected like a universe; vast, wide, composed of somewhat a system all in the process of discovery, yet still mysterious with many areas hidden, waiting to be revealed and chanced upon."
-finding polaris