ASTRONOMY (as-tron'o-my), (Gr. dar4p, as star, and poiws, mant'os, law), that science which treats of the laws of the stars, or heavenly bodies, considered in reference to their magni tude, movements and respective influence one upon another.
Astronomy may be divided into empirical and scientific, the first being founded on the apparent phenomena and movements of the heavenly bodies, the second upon their real phenomena and move ments. The knowledge of the ancients was lim ited to the first ; or if they possessed any truths connected with the second they were nothing more than bold or fortunate guesses, which were not followed out to their legitimate consequences, nor formed into a systematic whole.
(1) Cradle of Astronomy. The cradle of as tronomy is to be found in Asia. The few and imperfect notices which have come down to these times give a concurrent testimony in favor of this statement, and therewith agrees the fact that the climate, the mode of life and the occupations of the Oriental nations that were first civilized prompted them to watch and observe the starry heavens. The Chaldtrans are accounted to have excelled in astronomical knowledge.
Pliny, in his celebrated enumeration (Hist Nat vii :57) of the inventors of die arts, sciences and conveniences of life, ascribes the discovery of astronomy to Plurnician mariners: 'Siderum ob servationem in navigando Phrenices; and in the same chapter he speaks of astronomical olicerva Lions found on burnt bricks (cm-Wilms laiereulis) among the Babylonians, which ascend to above 2 200 years B. C Alexander sent to Aristotle from Babylon a series of astronomical observa tions, extending through moo years. The as tronomical knowledge of the Chinese and In dians goes tip to a still earlier period (PIM litst Nat. vi:t7-2t). From the remote East astronomy traveled in a westerly direction. The Egyptians at a very early period hail some acquaintance with it. To them is to be ascribed a pretty near de termination of the length of the year. as con sisting of 365 day. 6 hours (Ilerodotu. it :41 The Egyptian. were the teachers of the Greeks Some portion of the knowledge which prevailed on the subject would no doubt penetrate to and become the inheritance of the Hebrews. who do not. however, appear to have possessed any views of astronomy Which rai-ed their knowledge to the rank of a science, or made it approach to a more correct theory of the mechanism of the heavens than that which was generally held. Nor,
if the Bible is taken as the witness, do the an cient Israelites appear to have had extensive knowledge in the matter. They possessed such an acquaintance with it as tillers of the ground and herdsmen might be expected to form while pursuing their business, having, as was natural, their minds directed to those regions of the heavens which night after night brought before their eyes; accordingly, the peculiar Oriental names of the constellations are derived from cir cumstances connected with a nomade people. A peculiarity of the greatest Importance belongs to the knowledge which the Israelites display of the heavens, namely, that it is thoroughly imbued with a religious character, nor is it possible to find in any other writings, even at this day, so much pure and elevated piety, in connection with observations on the starry firmament, as may be gathered even in single books of the Bible (Amos v:8; Ps. xix).
(2) Days of the Patriarchs. As early as the day of the patriarchs the minds of pious men were attracted and enraptured by the splendor of the skies (Gen. xxxvii:o) ; and imagery borrowed from the starry world soon fixed itself firmly in human speech. The sun and moon were distin guished from other heavenly bodies, in conse quence of their magnitude and their brilliancy, as being the lights of heaven and earth (Gen. i :16) : and from the course of the moon time was divided into parts, or months, of which the oldest form of the year, the lunar, was made up. Every new moon was greeted with religions festivities. While, however, the sun in his power, the moon walking in brightness, and all the stars of light conspired to excite devotion, their influence on the hearts of the ancient Israelites. who were happily instructed in a knowledge of the true God, the one Jehovah, the sole Creator of the world, stopped short of that idolatrous feeling, and was free from those idolatrous practices to which, among nations of less religious knowledge—and especially among their own neighbors, the Babylonians. for in stance—it is unhappily known to have led.