Cultural Astronomy is the
relationship between people, their cultures, and astronomy. It is also an
interdisciplinary field that studies current and ancient societies, through anthropology,
sociology, history, astronomy, archaeology, folklore, and philosophy.
Some areas are:
2.
Ethnoastronomy: How people in current cultures
and societies understand and use astronomies and cosmologies.
3.
History
of Astronomy is the study of the origins and evolution of the
academic disciplines of astronomy and astrophysics.
4.
Historical
Astronomy is the application of historical
records to modern astrophysical problems.
The goals of the Cultural Astronomy and Storytelling working group are
to
1) collect cultural astronomy information,
2) create resources such as films, pamphlets, and computer aids,
3) design activities and events that utilize our research findings and
resources that engage the public, and
4) implementation with public participation.
Our group explores the ideas and concepts of the different
oral and written traditions among those who would pass down such teachings of
the night sky, what the cosmos meant to the ancient observer, what it means to
the current observer, and how past and present traditions relate to all of us
today, enabling those who participate to gain a fuller understanding of their
own cosmology or, at least, become aware of other frames of reference with
which to look at the universe. Those who hold the knowledge and are responsible
for teaching it to the next generation are our teachers, elders, professors,
astronomers, and observers.
Please join in this effort to reach out to local
communities, underserved audiences, Native American peoples and the public at
large to bring forth cultural perspectives on the sky.
Contact the Cultural Astronomy Working Group chair by email
at holbrook_at_email dot arizona dot edu.
Please visit our EVENTS Page to
view our Cultural Astronomy and Storytelling Activities for 2009.
Get Involved! Please see our
listing of upcoming opportunities
to participate in Cultural Astronomy & Storytelling during IYA2009.
Group Members:
|
|
National Center for Earth and Space
Science Education (NCESSE) (URL = http://ncesse.org/), NASA/GSFC, and Voices
in the Glen (http://voicesintheglen.org/ ) |
|
Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences at
University of Colorado |
|
|
Physics &
Space Sciences at the Florida Institute of Technology |
|
|
|
Chief Astronomer at the Franklin Institute |
Our Official Website: http://astronomy2009.us/storytelling/