Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Europan Ocean on 31/05/2017 14:56:14

Title: Can we determine which star was the North Star in 1000 BC?
Post by: Europan Ocean on 31/05/2017 14:56:14

The sun moves and the Earth wobbles, can we determine which was the northern star at 1000 BC?

I think the Psalmist said Heaven was by the Northern Star.

Title: Re: Can we determine which star was the northern star at 1000 BC?
Post by: Colin2B on 31/05/2017 16:21:28

Quote from: Europan Ocean on 31/05/2017 14:56:14

I think the Psalmist said Heaven was by the Northern Star.

No, that was whoever wrote Eskimo Nell.

You should be able to work it out, but I don't have time at the moment. Because of the precession of Earth, the axis follows a circle on the celestial sphere every 26,000 years. When the pyramids were built (which is probably accurate enough for you) the North Star was Thuban in the constellation Draco the Dragon. In about 12000yrs It will be Vega.

Title: Re: Can we determine which star was the northern star at 1000 BC?
Post by: Janus on 31/05/2017 18:48:45

Quote from: Europan Ocean on 31/05/2017 14:56:14

The sun moves, the the Earth wobbles, can we determine which was the northern star at 1000 BC?

I think the Psalmist said Heaven was by the Northern Star.

Okay, by finding an online version of Skyglobe, which adjusts for the Earth's axial precession, the closest bright star to the celestrial North pole in the year 1000 BC I could find is Capella.

Title: Re: Can we determine which star was the northern star at 1000 BC?
Post by: Colin2B on 31/05/2017 19:46:47

Quote from: Janus on 31/05/2017 18:48:45

Okay, by finding an online version of Skyglobe, which adjusts for the Earth's axial precession, the closest bright star to the celestrial North pole in the year 1000 BC I could find is Capella.

Yes, I think the pyramids were more like 2500BCE