Table of Contents

Syllabus

Module 1
* Introduction
* Sun-Moon Worship
* Zodiac Constellations
* Abstract: Title
* Creation Myths
* Our Place
* Development

Module 2

Module 3

Module 4

Problem Sets

SUN AND MOON WORSHIP

Two of the most important early deities were the Sun and the Moon. Sun-worship was common to most Ancient civilizations --
but the Moon also has its share of worship

The following links illustrate how ancient cultures varied in their experience of Sun and Moon worship

SEASONS AND THE SUN (Nights/Days)

In Northern Climes, Apparent "UP" and "Down" motion of the Sun was cause of Great Concern

"Navroz" Celebration of re-birth and rejuvenation fINISH THIS BEFORE PUBLISHING

(Persian/Iranian=>Shiite Islam)

 "Day of reborn sun"/Winter Solastice

(Pagan Roman=>Christianity)

Legends and superstitions were believed but it was equally important to pay attention to the motion of the sun which led to the motion of the sun which led to TimeKeeping.

It is He [GOD] who made the sun a shining glory, and the Moon a light, and measured out its stations* That Ye may know the number of years and the count (of time).

X:5 (QURAN)

STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

The Celestial Sphere

The sky is full of stars.

Most of the bright stars have arabic names.

Stars are grouped in patterns and these patterns remained fixed in the sky

THE ECLIPTIC: The Path of the Sun, Moon, (Planets) through the sky

Image of the Ecliptic

There are 12 constellations in the Zodiac

Sun passes through all 12 constellations in a year

In same constellation at approximately the same time each year

The Constellations mark out important points in the sky.

But first let's investigate precission. The earth's rotation axis is not fixed in space. Like a rotating toy top, the direction of the rotation axis executes a slow precission with a period of 26,000 years.

More about Precission

Polaris will not always be the pole star. The earth's rotation axis happens to be pointing almost exactly at Polaris now, but in 14,000 years the precession of the rotation axis will mean that the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra will be approximately at the North Celestial Pole, while in 26,000 more years Polaris will once again be the pole star.