Medievalists.net » Astronomy http://www.medievalists.net Where the Middle Ages Begin Sun, 06 Dec 2015 19:35:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.9 A Portal to the Universe: The Astrolabe as a Site of Exchange in Medieval and Early Modern Knowledge http://www.medievalists.net/2015/01/21/portal-universe-astrolabe-site-exchange-medieval-early-modern-knowledge/ http://www.medievalists.net/2015/01/21/portal-universe-astrolabe-site-exchange-medieval-early-modern-knowledge/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2015 01:37:41 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=55565 This essay analyzes the astrolabe and its ability to transfer ideas and culture across traditional geographic boundaries, from the perspective of Europe in the Medieval and Early Modern eras.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2015/01/21/portal-universe-astrolabe-site-exchange-medieval-early-modern-knowledge/feed/ 0 Assessment of early-modern observations of comets and supernovae: Focus on pre-telescopic European astrometric and physical data http://www.medievalists.net/2014/11/16/assessment-early-modern-observations-comets-supernovae-focus-pre-telescopic-european-astrometric-physical-data/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/11/16/assessment-early-modern-observations-comets-supernovae-focus-pre-telescopic-european-astrometric-physical-data/#comments Sun, 16 Nov 2014 15:07:13 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=54156 It will be worth while in this investigation to inquire whether comets have the same nature as the planets and stars ... A comet seems to have certain things in common with them: rising and setting, the same appearance, although a comet is scattered and extends farther. It is also fiery and bright. And so, if all planets are earthy bodies, comets will also have the same condition. ~ Seneca

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/11/16/assessment-early-modern-observations-comets-supernovae-focus-pre-telescopic-european-astrometric-physical-data/feed/ 0 Flee the loathsome shadow: Marsilio Ficino (1433-99) and the Medici in Florence http://www.medievalists.net/2014/11/09/flee-loathsome-shadow-marsilio-ficino-1433-99-medici-florence/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/11/09/flee-loathsome-shadow-marsilio-ficino-1433-99-medici-florence/#comments Sun, 09 Nov 2014 23:30:30 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=54007 This article examines the changing political landscape of Medicean Florence, from Cosimo de’ Medici (1389-1464) to his grandson Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492), through the letters of the celebrated neo-Platonist philosopher Marsilio Ficino (1433-99).

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/11/09/flee-loathsome-shadow-marsilio-ficino-1433-99-medici-florence/feed/ 0 Michelangelo, Copernicus and the Sistine Chapel http://www.medievalists.net/2014/08/08/michelangelo-copernicus-sistine-chapel/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/08/08/michelangelo-copernicus-sistine-chapel/#comments Fri, 08 Aug 2014 16:14:53 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=51726 A detailed examination of the themes, motifs and secrets held with Michelagelo's masterpiece.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/08/08/michelangelo-copernicus-sistine-chapel/feed/ 0 A New Set of Fourteenth Century Planetary Observations http://www.medievalists.net/2014/07/27/new-set-fourteenth-century-planetary-observations/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/07/27/new-set-fourteenth-century-planetary-observations/#comments Sun, 27 Jul 2014 19:47:53 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=51405 The Astronomy of Levi ben Gerson (d.1344) is unusual for recording 45 observations he made of planetary longitudes and latitudes that are presented here for the first time.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/07/27/new-set-fourteenth-century-planetary-observations/feed/ 0 A Medieval Multiverse http://www.medievalists.net/2014/03/26/medieval-multiverse/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/03/26/medieval-multiverse/#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:15:18 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=48571 Ideas in a thirteenth-century treatise on the nature of matter still resonate today, say Tom C. B. McLeish and colleagues.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/03/26/medieval-multiverse/feed/ 0 Eclipses in the Middle East from the Late Medieval Islamic Period to the Early Modern Period http://www.medievalists.net/2014/01/10/eclipses-in-the-middle-east-from-the-late-medieval-islamic-period-to-the-early-modern-period/ http://www.medievalists.net/2014/01/10/eclipses-in-the-middle-east-from-the-late-medieval-islamic-period-to-the-early-modern-period/#comments Fri, 10 Jan 2014 06:31:11 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=46527 This paper deals with the analysis of data obtained from observations of two sets of three lunar eclipses in the Late Medieval Islamic Period.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2014/01/10/eclipses-in-the-middle-east-from-the-late-medieval-islamic-period-to-the-early-modern-period/feed/ 0 Depicting the Medieval Alchemical Cosmos: George Ripley’s Wheel of Inferior Astronomy http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/10/depicting-the-medieval-alchemical-cosmos-george-ripleys-wheel-of-inferior-astronomy/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/10/depicting-the-medieval-alchemical-cosmos-george-ripleys-wheel-of-inferior-astronomy/#comments Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:28:54 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=45680 Alchemical writing often develops the idea of a physical or analogical correspondence between heaven and earth: a relationship most fre- quently and conveniently expressed by the use of the seven planetary symbols (Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) to denote the seven metals (usually gold, silver, quicksilver, copper, iron, tin and lead respectively).

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2013/12/10/depicting-the-medieval-alchemical-cosmos-george-ripleys-wheel-of-inferior-astronomy/feed/ 0 Ironing Out the Myth of the Flat Earth http://www.medievalists.net/2013/11/21/ironing-out-the-myth-of-the-flat-earth/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/11/21/ironing-out-the-myth-of-the-flat-earth/#comments Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:52:50 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=45086 It seems there’s one fact about the Middle Ages that always seems to astound people: medieval people did not actually think the world was flat.

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]]> http://www.medievalists.net/2013/11/21/ironing-out-the-myth-of-the-flat-earth/feed/ 0 Galileo, the Impact of the Telescope, and the Birth of Modern Astronomy http://www.medievalists.net/2013/10/19/galileo-the-impact-of-the-telescope-and-the-birth-of-modern-astronomy/ http://www.medievalists.net/2013/10/19/galileo-the-impact-of-the-telescope-and-the-birth-of-modern-astronomy/#comments Sun, 20 Oct 2013 04:27:41 +0000 http://www.medievalists.net/?p=44389 Galileo would have dearly loved to explain to his examiners how his observations made belief in the Copernican system more intellectually respectable even though he had no irrefutable proof of the Earth’s motion, but this was an opportunity he never got.

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