DOCSLIB.ORG

Lunar Standstill Alignments?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Lunar Standstill Alignments? H. A. DmNews The Newsletter of the Historical Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical Society Number 46 November 1998 HAD Elections Lunar Standstill Alignments? The time has come to elect a new HAD Vice- Brad Schaefer, Yale University Chair and two members of the HAD Committee. The Nominating Committee has Is there any ethnographic or historical evidence submitted the following slate of candidates. for lunar standstill alignments? I recently Pursuant to the HAD By-Laws: "During the asked the HASTRO LISTSRV this question, next thirty days, additional candidates may be and it led to a vigorous discussion. I received nominated by petition of at least 10% of the comments (through HASTRO or privately) Membership . ." Such petitions may be sent from Rolf Sinclair, Sara Gardner, John to the Secretary. Carlson, Mary Blomberg, Tom Settle, Steve McCluskey, Michael Zeilik, Ed Krupp, Simon For Vice-Chair: Barbara Welther Cassidy, Nick Carnpion, Peter Nockolds, Brad Schaefer George Gale, and Dan Purrington. Rolf For Committee: Sara Schechner Genuth suggested that I try summarizing the responses: Steve McCluskey Tom Williams Five separate historical or ethnographic Joanne Eisberg evidences were advanced: Joe Term (1) The biblical book of Joshua [10:12-131 You will receive a final ballot (with candidate says "and the sun stood still, and the moon biographies) in thirty days. The new HAD stayed." But this happened in the middle of a officers will serve a two-year term, beginning battle that explicitly lasts only during one in 1999. At that time, current Vice-Chair (long) day. Also, the event is reported just Virginia Trimble will assume the Chair. after various fantastic heavenly prodigies. The moon reference is a poetic allusion to time (The Nominating Committee is chaired by going slowly, and appears unrelated to lunar Woody Sullivan. Members are Kate Bracher standstills. and Andy Fraknoi.) (2) The palace of Zakros in eastern Crete has These five connections are the best with which some proposed southern lunar standstill anyone could come up. Compare them with orientations, while at the same site was found the vast ethnographic and historic sources for a libation bowl with a Linear A inscription alignments to sunrises on significant dates, to interpreted as referring to a Moon goddess. (I cardinal directions, to solsticial positions, and have been unable to get the referenced to Mecca. A number of the most widely conference proceeding, but I had always heard experienced workers in our field weighed in to that Linear A was undeciphered, so I cannot say that essentially no reliable historical or verify the strength of the reading.) Lunar ethnographic evidence exists that anypre- 1900 orientations can be easily found at many sites culture displayed any interest in lunar and Moon goddesses are common, so on the standstills. And a number of these people said evidence given, this relation is weak. that they had been searching long and hard. Given this stunning lack of written or oral (3) It has been suggested that certain minor evidence, we can only conclude that most (but irregularities in the dates of the Zuni Shalako not necessarily all) cultures have zero or near- festival could be explained if the Full Moon zero interest in lunar standstills. was determined by observations relating moonrise to solsticial sunrise. But this carries One person raised a separate-but-related no implication that the Zuni used, cared about, question, asking "What is wrong with 'the or recognized the standstill phenomenon. existence of the alignment itself as evidence?" He then points to many cases where (4) Hawluns' original historical evidence for "historical" data is unreliable by itself and Stonehenge standstill alignmentswas a passage where archaeological data is adequate by itself. fiom Diodorus Siculus concerning It was speculated that the motive for raising (presumably) Britain, in which the Moon and this good point is a response to the occasional the nineteen-year Metonic period are prejudice where classical historians ignore all mentioned among a jumble oftopics [Hawluns, nontextual data. From the following re- Stonehenge Decoded, pg. 1301. This passage sponses, it seems that everyone agrees that our could be forced to fit a lunar standstill situation "Rules of Evidence" should neither forbid nor with some liberal interpretation and assuming require any one type of information. And one textual error (the Metonic cycle is not the everyone agrees that the more types of standstill cycle). But the record must be confirming information available, the more heavily "deciphered," and other interpretations confident the result. Hence, the case for lunar are reasonable, so this connection was alignments would be substantially stronger if characterized as "inconclusive." we knew that many (or even a few) cultures were interested in standstills, fiom written or (5) Hawkins also relates a story [Mindsteps of oral data. the Cosmos, pg. 89-90] about a (modem?) farmer near a stone circle who connects the Several responses to the side-question ("Is a circles to something the Moon does every 19 lunar standstill alignment good enough by years. If this comment is not from a 20th itself?") touched close to the heart of the century farmer, then it might hark back to the archaeoastronomy paradigm as practiced. Diodorus tradition with all its weaknesses yet Various problems were noted that led people to with two more millennia of separation. suspect that an alignment alone was not enough in general. The first problem is that damage or rebuilding while many have alignments to them; it is might shift the orientation. The example given plausible to think that a solsticial orientation was that the popular summer solstice event at observed for a prehistoric monument like Casa Rinconada is a result of the kiva's recon- Stonehenge is actually an alignment." The struction. most famous claim of lunar standstill alignments (British megaliths) fails test A, The second problem is that artifacts of while tests B and C are not possible. That is different eras might-or-might-not be related in my reason for posing the historylethnography the original builder's design. The example question in the first place, so as to evaluate given was that a cairn near a stone circle sites by test D. cannot readily be distinguished as fkom the Bronze Age or fkom a medieval farmer. From the replies, I don't think that our community is in disagreement. So let me be so The thrd problem is that "the artifacts rarely brash as to try to briefly summarize what I speak for themselves and usually have to be learned: Five ethnographclhistoric examples evaluated," which is to place the ideas in the of interest in standstills were advanced, but all context of the culture. No example was given, taken together are too weak to be considered but I readily recall the myriad interpretations useful. No reliable written or oral report is for Stonehenge when the stones are allowed to known of any culture anywhere before 1900 speak for themselves. having any interest in lunar standstills. This is in sharp contrast to the bountiful reports of The fourth and greatest problem is that no case solar alignments of various types, so that we of lunar standstill alignments has been shown can realize that few (if any) cultures have any to be statistically significant. The example interest in the standstill phenomenon. This given was the megalithic monuments in Britain conclusion places a heavy burden on anyone for which Ruggles' great surveys and analyses who claims that a lunar orientation is actually show Thom's claim to be statistically invalid. an alignment, as they must provide evidence of So in response to the request for a better interition when all evidence shows that no one explanation of the claimed alignments, we has any interest at all. The lack of merely need advance the null hypothesis of ethnographiclhistorical evidence fiom cultures "random" orientation. worldwide does not in any way refute the idea of lunar alignments, but it does rob the idea of Perhaps the most insightful remark was to an opportunity to argue by cultural analogy, make the distinction between "orientations" and it does rob the idea of plausibility. and "alignments," with the latter implying intention on the part of the builders. [Thanks go to Dr. Schaefer for providing a text Orientations are easy to find and prove, but version of this review at the Editor's request. - alignments require us to somehow get inside T. H.] the thoughts of the builder. The mere existence of an orientation does not prove intention by itself. Intent can be shown by some combination of (A) statistical significance over the null case, perhaps with a multi-site analysis, (B) historical documents on the culture in question, (C) ethnographic Bookmark the HAD Web Page at information on the culture, or more weakly (D) ethnographic analogy with other cultures. For http://www .aas.org/-had/had.html test D, the argument might go something like: "Almost all societies recognize the solstices, AAS Centennial Meeting At the AAS Centennial meeting, David will give an invited, one-hour talk before the whole Society, in an unparalleled session on the Don Osterbrock history of the AAS, based, of course, in large Chair, AAS Centennial Committee part on the book he has edited. In addition, there will be another unparalleled session, The HAD will hold its 1999 meeting at the before the whole Society, on the future of the AAS Centennial meeting, which will take AAS (and of astronomy), with three (or place in Chcago, May 30 through June 3. In possibly four) invited talks, all by former addition to the sessions for historical papers, presidents of the Society. A third session, which the HAD will organize, the AAS will organized by the Centennial Committee, will have several historical sessions itself.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Entrance Pupil Irradiance Estimating Model for a Moon-Based Earth Radiation Observatory Instrument
    remote sensing Article Entrance Pupil Irradiance Estimating Model for a Moon-Based Earth Radiation Observatory Instrument Wentao Duan 1, Shaopeng Huang 2,3,* and Chenwei Nie 4 1 School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, China; [email protected] 2 Institute of Deep Earth Science and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China 3 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA 4 Key Laboratory of Digital Earth Science, Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 26 January 2019; Accepted: 6 March 2019; Published: 10 March 2019 Abstract: A Moon-based Earth radiation observatory (MERO) could provide a longer-term continuous measurement of radiation exiting the Earth system compared to current satellite-based observatories. In order to parameterize the detector for such a newly-proposed MERO, the evaluation of the instrument’s entrance pupil irradiance (EPI) is of great importance. The motivation of this work is to build an EPI estimating model for a simplified single-pixel MERO instrument. The rationale of this model is to sum the contributions of every location in the MERO-viewed region on the Earth’s top of atmosphere (TOA) to the MERO sensor’s EPI, taking into account the anisotropy in the longwave radiance at the Earth TOA. Such anisotropy could be characterized by the TOA anisotropic factors, which can be derived from the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) angular distribution models (ADMs).
    [Show full text]
  • Lunar Motion Motion A
    2 Lunar V. Lunar Motion Motion A. The Lunar Calendar Dr. Bill Pezzaglia B. Motion of Moon Updated 2012Oct30 C. Eclipses 3 1. Phases of Moon 4 A. The Lunar Calendar 1) Phases of the Moon 2) The Lunar Month 3) Calendars based on Moon b). Elongation Angle 5 b.2 Elongation Angle & Phase 6 Angle between moon and sun (measured eastward along ecliptic) Elongation Phase Configuration 0º New Conjunction 90º 1st Quarter Quadrature 180º Full Opposition 270º 3rd Quarter Quadrature 1 b.3 Elongation Angle & Phase 7 8 c). Aristarchus 275 BC Measures the elongation angle to be 87º when the moon is at first quarter. Using geometry he determines the sun is 19x further away than the moon. [Actually its 400x further !!] 9 Babylonians (3000 BC) note phases are 7 days apart 10 2. The Lunar Month They invent the 7 day “week” Start week on a) The “Week” “moon day” (Monday!) New Moon First Quarter b) Synodic Month (29.5 days) Time 0 Time 1 week c) Spring and Neap Tides Full Moon Third Quarter New Moon Time 2 weeks Time 3 weeks Time 4 weeks 11 b). Stone Circles 12 b). Synodic Month Stone circles often have 29 stones + 1 xtra one Full Moon to Full Moon off to side. Originally there were 30 “sarson The cycle of stone” in the outer ring of Stonehenge the Moon’s phases takes 29.53 days, or ~4 weeks Babylonians measure some months have 29 days (hollow), some have 30 (full). 2 13 c1). Tidal Forces 14 c). Tides This animation illustrates the origin of tidal forces.
    [Show full text]
  • Lunar Standstills and Chimney Rock
    Lunar Standstills and Chimney Rock Thomas Hockey To understand the motion of something, we require a reference. For a car, it’s the road. For the hands of a clock, it’s the numbered dial behind them. In the case of the Moon seen in the sky, nature provides a terrific reference: It’s the background of stars. The stars are so distant that their motions through space are imperceptible to the naked eye over human history. Thus we speak of the “fixed stars.” Imagine that the spherical Earth is surrounded by a shell of fixed stars. It isn’t really, of course. (The stars are at varying distances from the Earth, they aren’t physically attached to anything, etc.) Still, that’s what it looks like! During the course of the night, this shell appears to partly rotate around us, due to the Earth—the thing that’s really rotating—turning completely once each twenty-four-hour day. You can even infer the place in the sky about which the shell seems to be spinning. It’s a point, directly north, about one third of the way from the horizon at Chimney Rock to the point overhead. Look for the star of modest brightness (the “North Star”) that nearly marks its exact location. This North Celestial Pole [NCP] is just the extension of the Earth’s North Pole (one of two poles defining the axis about which the Earth rotates), infinitely into the sky. (The South Celestial Pole [SCP] is forever below the southern horizon at Chimney Rock.) We can do better than just imagining! A few hours spent stargazing under the real sky will convince you that this is true.
    [Show full text]
  • SOLSTICE PROJECT RESEARCH Lunar Markings on Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
    SOLSTICE PROJECT RESEARCH Papers available on this site may be downloaded, but must not be distributed for profit without citation. Lunar Markings on Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon, New Mexico By A. Sofaer, Washington, D.C. R. M. Sinclair, National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. L. E. Doggett, U. S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C. Appeared in Archaeoastronomy in the New World, ed. A.F. Aveni, pp. 169- 86. Cambridge University Press. Reprinted with permission from Cambridge University Press. Fajada Butte is known to contain a solar marking site, probably constructed by ancient Pueblo Indians, that records the equinoxes and solstices (Sofaer et al. 1979 a). Evidence is now presented that the site was also used to record the 18.6-year cycle of the lunar standstills. Fajada Butte (Figure 1) rises to a height of 135 m in Chaco Canyon, an arid valley of 13 km in northwest New Mexico, that was the center of a complex society of precolumbian culture. Near the top of the southern exposure of the butte, three stone slabs, each 2-3 m in height and about 1,000 kg in weight, lean against a cliff (Figures 2, 3). Behind the slabs two spiral petroglyphs are carved on the vertical cliff face. One spiral of 9 1/2 turns is elliptical in shape, measuring 34 by 41 cm (Figure 4). To the upper left of that spiral is a smaller spiral of 2 1/2 turns, measuring 9 by 13 cm (Figure 4). Fig. 1 Fajada Butte from the north. The solar/lunar marking site is on the southeast summit.
    [Show full text]
  • LOFAR on the Moon: Mission Configuration and Orbit Design
    LOFAR on the Moon: Mission Configuration and Orbit Design Maximizing the Payload Mass Using Chemical or Electri- cal Propulsion Lucas Antignac May 12, 2015 Master of Science Thesis Aerospace Engineering - Space Exploration LOFAR on the Moon: Mission Configuration and Orbit Design Maximizing the Payload Mass Using Chemical or Electrical Propulsion Master of Science Thesis For the degree of Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology Lucas Antignac (4176189) Under the supervision of: Ir. R. Noomen Ir. H. Cruijssen Ir. L. Meijer May 12, 2015 Faculty of Aerospace Engineering · Delft University of Technology Abstract Unperturbed observation of deep space radio waves is impossible to achieve from Earth but could be managed if the instruments were positioned in a place shielded from Earth, such as the far side of the Moon or the Shackleton crater, situated at its South Pole. In order to keep the costs of such a mission as low as possible, the VEGA launcher needs to be used. This MSc Thesis studies the possible mission designs and trajectories to land a minimum of 150 kg of payload in such a place. For the eight mission scenarios considered, the spacecraft can either use a Chemical Propulsion System (CPS) or an Electric Propulsion System (EPS) for the transfer to Low Lunar Orbit (LLO), the spacecraft can either circularize around the Moon in a polar orbit or in an orbit situated in the lunar orbital plane, and the relay can either be sent to the Lagrangian point L2 (L2) or be landed on the Moon. After preselecting the four feasible mission scenarios, a Matlab program was coded to simulate the trajectories flown from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to LLO using either a CPS or an EPS, the trajectory from LLO to L2 using a CPS which is applicable to certain mission scenarios only, and the trajectory for the descent and landing also using a CPS.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is a Lunar Standstill III |
    Documenta Praehistorica XLIII (2016) What is a lunar standstill III 1| Lionel Sims University of East London, London, UK [email protected] ABSTRACT – Prehistoric monument alignments on lunar standstills are currently understood for hori- zon range, perturbation event, crossover event, eclipse prediction, solstice full Moon and the solari- sation of the dark Moon. The first five models are found to fail the criteria of archaeoastronomy field methods. The final model of lunar-solar conflation draws upon all the observed components of lunar standstills – solarised reverse phased sidereal Moons culminating in solstice dark Moons in a roughly nine-year alternating cycle between major and minor standstills. This lunar-solar conflation model is a syncretic overlay upon an antecedent Palaeolithic template for lunar scheduled rituals and amenable to transformation. IZVLE∞EK – Poravnava prazgodovinskih spomenikov na Lunine zastoje se trenutno sklepa za razpon horizonta, perturbacijo, prehod Lune, napovedovanje Luninih mrkov, polne lune na solsticij in sola- rizacije mlaja. Prvih pet modelov ne zadostuje kriterijem arheoastronomskih terenskih metod. Zad- nji model lunarno-solarne zamenjave temelji na vseh opazovanih komponentah Luninega zastoja – solarizirane obrnjene Lune, ki kulminirajo v mlaju v solsticiju v devetletnem izmeni≠nem ciklu med najve≠jim in najmanj∏im zastojem. Ta lunarno-solarni model je postavljen na temeljih predhodne paleolitske predloge za na≠rtovanje lunarnih ritualov in je dojemljiv za preobrazbe. KEY WORDS – lunar standstill; synodic; sidereal; lunar-solar; syncretic Introduction Thom’s publications between 1954 and 1975 galva- properties of prehistoric monument ‘astronomical’ nised a generation – with horror among many ar- alignments to trace their variable engagement by chaeologists and inspiration for others, some of different researchers.
    [Show full text]
  • Lebeuf the Nuraghic Well of Santa Cristina, Paulilatino, Oristano
    THE NURAGHIC WELL OF SANTA CRISTINA, PAULILATINO, ORISTANO, SARDINIA. A VERIFICATION OF THE ASTRONOMICAL HYPOTHESIS: WORK IN PROCESS, PRELIMINARY RESULTS 10 BALTICA ARNOLD LEBEUF “O that the ladder to heaven were longer And the lofty mountain loftier! ARCHAEOLOGIA Then I would fetch and offer to my lord The waters of life Which Tsukuyomi treasures, And restore him to youth and life” Manyoshu (Shinkokai 1965, p.306). [Tsukuyomi is a Moon goddess]. Abstract The Nuraghic well of Santa Cristina, Sardinia has been regarded as a ritual monument built to receive moonlight on its water mirror at the time of the meridian passage of the moon when it reaches its highest point in the sky during and around the major northern lunistice. In this paper we investigate the precision that could have been achieved and conclude that the well could indeed have served as an instrument for measuring the lunar declination during half of the draconic cycle of 18.61 years. Key words: Moon, Lunar standstill, sacred well, Nuraghic culture, camera obscura, eclipses, Phoenicians. Introduction broken. Of nearly a hundred Nuraghic wells known in the island, almost all are built of rough stones: only The sacred well of Santa Cristina is situated in the neigh- three are of carved stones, and only Santa Cristina is bourhood of the small city of Paulilatino, in the Oris- preserved in its integrity. tano province of Sardinia. Its coordinates are: 40º3’41” V The general shape of the well is that of a long bottle. North, 8º43’58” East. This construction, built of per- Each horizontal layer is circular, with the upper open- V.
    [Show full text]
  • Thinking About Archeoastronomy
    Thinking about Archeoastronomy Noah Brosch The Wise Observatory and the Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69972, Israel Abstract I discuss various aspects of archeoastronomy concentrating on physical artifacts (i.e., not including ethno-archeoastronomy) focusing on the period that ended about 2000 years ago. I present examples of artifacts interpreted as showing the interest of humankind in understanding celestial phenomena and using these to synchronize calendars and predict future celestial and terrestrial events. I stress the difficulty of identifying with a high degree of confidence that these artifacts do indeed pertain to astronomy and caution against the over-interpretation of the finds as definite evidence. With these in mind, I point to artifacts that seem to indicate a human fascination with megalithic stone circles and megalithic alignments starting from at least 11000 BCE, and to other items presented as evidence for Neolithic astronomical interests dating to even 20000 BCE or even before. I discuss the geographical and temporal spread of megalithic sites associated with astronomical interpretations searching for synchronicity or for a possible single point of origin. A survey of a variety of artifacts indicates that the astronomical development in antiquity did not happen simultaneously at different locations, but may be traced to megalithic stone circles and other megalithic structures with possible astronomical connections originating in the Middle East, specifically in the Fertile Crescent area. The effort of ancient societies to erect these astronomical megalithic sites and to maintain a corpus of astronomy experts does not appear excessive. Key words: archeoastronomy, megaliths, stone circles, alignments Introduction This paper deals with “archeoastronomy” in a restricted sense.
    [Show full text]
  • Chimney Rock National Monument Interpretation and Education Plan
    United States Department of Agriculture Chimney Rock National Monument Interpretation and Education Plan Forest Service San Juan National Forest January 2018 CHIMNEY ROCK NATIONAL MONUMENT Contents Background .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Purpose of This Plan .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Interpretive and Education Goals and Desired Outcomes .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Goal One: Welcome and Orient. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 Goal Two: Engage and Connect . ..2 Interpretive and Education Goals and Desired Outcomes .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Goal One: Welcome and Orient. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..2 Goal Two: Engage and Connect . ..2 Goal Three: Develop and Reinforce a Sense of Place .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 Goal Four: Showcase a Partnership Model .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Interpretive Themes and Storylines.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 What Are They?. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 How Are Themes and Storylines Used?.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..4 Primary Theme . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..5 Theme 1: Why Did They Come? Why Did They Leave? Where Did They Go? .. ..5 Theme 2: The Building of a Community. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..7 Theme 3: The Chacoan Connection.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..8 Theme 4: Sky Wisdom . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Theme 5: Learning about our Past, Preserving our Legacy . .11 Theme 6: A Livelihood in this Landscape . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Additional Safety and Stewardship
    [Show full text]
  • Indigenous Riverscapes and Mounds: the Feminine Relationship of Earth, Sky and Water
    2018 HAWAII UNIVERSITY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES STEAM - SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING, ARTS, MATHEMATICS & EDUCATION JUNE 6 - 8, 2018 PRINCE WAIKIKI, HONOLULU, HAWAII INDIGENOUS RIVERSCAPES AND MOUNDS: THE FEMININE RELATIONSHIP OF EARTH, SKY AND WATER ROCK, JIM MARSHALL W. ALWORTH PLANETARIUM UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - DULUTH DULUTH, MINNESOTA GOULD, ROXANNE BIIDABINOKWE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RUTH A. MEYER CENTER FOR INDIGENOUS ED./ENVIRONMENTAL ED. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA - DULUTH DULUTH, MINNESOTA Mr. Jim Rock Program Director Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, Minnesota Dr. Roxanne Biidabinokwe Gould Assistant Professor Education Department Ruth A. Meyer Center for Indigenous Education/Environmental Education University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, Minnesota Indigenous Riverscapes and Mounds: The Feminine Relationship of Earth, Sky and Water Synopsis: This session focuses on the burial and effigy mounds along the rivers of Turtle Island, as well as who and how they were created. Many mounds contain knowledge that mirrors earth with sky as expressions of art, humanities, science, math. and engineering. We will examine the strong feminine cosmology connected to these sites through a lens of Critical Indigenous Pedagogy of Place and what they offer to the study of astronomy, environmental and Indigenous education. Indigenous Mounds and Riverscapes: Feminine Earth-Sky Relationships Abstract The focus of this research is on the burial and effigy mounds along the riverscapes of Turtle Island and the technology, wisdom, labor, and love needed to develop and interpret them. Many of these mounds contain Indigenous feminine, place- based knowledge and numbers. These mounds mirror earth with sky as interdisciplinary expressions of art, humanities, science, math, engineering, and technology. We also examine the strong feminine cosmology connected to these sites and the impact of colonial settler practices through a lens of ecofeminism and critical Indigenous pedagogy of place (CIPP).
    [Show full text]
  • FULL MOON POSITIONS THROUGH the SEASONS, MAJOR and MINOR LUNAR STANDSTILLS, INTRO
    ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. BOOKS REQUIRED FOR OBSERVING PROJECTS, SKYGAZER PLANETARIUM CDs AND BOOKS FOR IDENTIFYING TOPICS FOR THE RESEARCH PAPER ARE ON RESERVE AT GEOLOGY LIBRARY IN BENSON (across the hall!). 2. EXTRA CREDIT HOMEWORK (if desired) DUE THURSDAY. 3. DARK SKY TRIP. ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT 6:30—10:30pm TO MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION ON NIWOT RIDGE. ELEVATION ~ 10,000 FEET IT WILL BE COLD REGARDLESS OF DAYTIME WEATHER IN BOULDER. 4. ECLIPSE SEASON !!! LUNAR ECLIPSE VIEWERS PLEASE USE 8:11pm AS TIME OF “FULL IMMERSION” INTO EARTH’S UMBRA (darkest shadow); i.e., eclipse became total at that time. 5. HELP SESSION FOR ERATOSTHENES CHALLENGE OBSERVING PROJECT (measuring the circumference of the Earth): next Monday 2—4pm and Tuesday 3:30– 5 pm Folsom Field Gate 5 Additional ANNOUNCEMENTS 6. ATTEND FISKE LIVE PRESENTATIONS FOR EXTRA CREDIT. WRITE ~ 1 PAGE ON WHAT YOU LEARNED. FIRST ONE THIS FRIDAY 7:30pm FOR PARENTS’ WEEKEND: “THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM: AN ANCIENT GREEK COMPUTER?” (for PARENTS’ WEEKEND) 7. “Stick with the Goat at hand” … a reminder about the addictive qualities of cellphone use. 8. UP FOR DISCUSSION TODAY: FULL MOON POSITIONS THROUGH THE SEASONS, MAJOR and MINOR LUNAR STANDSTILLS, INTRO. TO ECLIPSE PREDICTION TIME A FEW INTERESTING LUNAR OBSERVING “ODDITIES” THE FULL MOON RISES and wow ! LOOK HOW BIG IT IS…much bigger than when it is up high in the sky! “BLUE MOON”??… A RAMMA DAMMA DING DONG… A “WOBBLY” MOON ?? FULL MOONRISE OVER THE TEMPLE OF POSEIDON NEAR ATHENS BIG AND REDDISH …BUT SAME SIZE AS HIGHER IN THE SKY. BLUE MOON ??? MOON’S THAT APPEARED BLUISH IN THE SKY ARE VERY RARE BUT ACTUALLY WERE OBSERVED IN ANTIQUITY.
    [Show full text]
  • Michael Schwarz James Turrell—Roden Crater Project Content
    1 Michael Schwarz James Turrell—Roden Crater Project Content The Volcano The Time The Form The Anasazi The Sky The Project Leporello 2 Describing, analyzing, and interpreting works of fine art before they have even been completed is the exception in our métier. Architecture is more likely to provide examples of designs, plans, and models being dealt with as if they had already been built. This is first and foremost due to the contract situation. Under more rigorous competitive conditions, the methods of representation have become so refined that scale models definitely allow a reliable evaluation of the architectural structure and location within an urban or landscape context of constructions, as well as an estimation of their spatial effect and the distribution of light. Added to this comes knowledge about and the assessment of buildings that have already been realized. The Roden Crater Project by James Turrell has been and still is described, analyzed, and interpreted without there ever having been more to see than the dormant volcano Roden Crater. 1 There are reasons for the anticipation of a work by art critics as well as art historians: For one thing, when his considerations had been brought to an initial conclusion, the artist mounted an exhibition that surprised the art world with the wealth of material it included. On display were models, plans for the construction of individual corridors and chambers, aerial photographs, and aquatints, all of which illustrated certain perceptual phenomena in the planned spaces. At one and the same time, the exhibition communicated that everything had already been built or would, as planned, be completed before long.
    [Show full text]