Introduction to Stars Ancient beginnings Humanity has been gazing up at the night sky for thousands of years. It is the one thing we all share together. Some of the earliest human artifacts that have been discovered depict the arrangements of specific star shapes and patterns. The apparent movement of the sun, moon, stars, and planets across the sky make a giant, celestial clock. The earliest civilizations recorded these movements to help time agricultural activities, to mark the changing of the seasons, and guide travelers. The stories of the stars were often meaningful and helped to preserve cultural legacy. Humans have often associated these star patterns with mythical people and religious themes throughout history. Legends from around the world reveal ancient knowledge of the sky, and these stories have been passed down from generation to generation.

Mythology, religion, and cultural practices were frequently interwoven in ancient astronomy. In the past, astronomers could only view the sky with their unaided eyes. To follow the motion of the planets and stars, they employed basic sighting devices and gnomons, which are sticks that produce shadows. Observations were documented using rudimentary means such as carvings, writing on clay tablets, and drawings. This data was used to track cosmic patterns throughout time. Most ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Egyptians, and Babylonians, believed in a geocentric model of the universe, where Earth was at the center and everything else orbited around it. Celestial phenomena were often explained through myths and legends, lacking a scientific basis. Figures like Ptolemy, who developed the geocentric model with epicycles, and Hipparchus, who cataloged stars and discovered precession.

The Mayans, Chinese, and Indians also made significant contributions with their own unique observations and calendars. Although the myths and legends of the stars differ depending on time, place, and culture, the curiosity about what is beyond Earth's border is always there. Everyone shares the same sky.