What Is Astronomy?

Not to be confused with the popular prediction method of astrology, astronomy is the scientific study of the stars and planets.

Astronomers use scientific techniques to study the planets in the Solar System, the Sun and the Moon, and the stars, systems, galaxies and all other objects in the universe beyond.

Astronomy has been practiced since the times of the ancient peoples all over the Earth and there are observational records from ancient Babylonia, China, Egypt and Mexico. The first true astronomers were the Greeks – they were the first to realise that the Earth was a sphere and they attempted to measure its size.

Ancient Greek astronomers thought that the Earth was the centre of the universe, something that is not believed today, but their work was the basis for the modern science currently practiced. Modern science has started to explore space in ways the ancient Greeks could never have thought possible.

Astronomy is the exploration of universe. It is the study of outer space objects like stars, planets and galaxies. It also studies the phenomenons which originate in the earth atmosphere. It starts with the basic study of celestial bodies and go beyond the studies of formulation and development of earth. Actually it is not a standalone science and it also has a strong affiliation with other branches of science like geology, mathematics, biology etc. Ancient Greeks first developed theories of astronomy. Although it has been there for thousands of years but still the scope of the study is expanding. The reason is that technology development plays a major role in the progress of astronomy scope.

"The study of stars and planets".

The study of every object in the universe, and anything in the universe lying beyond our nice little planet we call Earth.