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Tracing the Ancient Skies

05/27/2010 10:39 AM

Good day people!

I am at the time making a translation of a poetic epic, and need to know or trace the cosmic references( stars and planets and other celestial body's) on the text to "score" the possible dates implicit by the author...

Can anyone give me some suggestion?

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#1

Re: tracing the ancient Skye's!

05/27/2010 11:10 AM

I had a program that you could do just that, but for the life of me I can't remember it's name! Check out some of the freeware programs on this link! I'm sure one will have the ability to do this! I will have a sift through just in case something jogs my memory!

This lot looks promising!!

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#2

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

05/28/2010 12:11 AM

Good.

In India, we have done something similar to decide the periods of some epics, based on the star positions described in the epics. I hope, you are trying something similar.

There are good softwares in the market like Redshift, Starmaps etc. But based of on star positions descibed in epic, finding out the period is to tiring. To find out the star positions for the known date is straight forward.

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#6
In reply to #2

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

05/31/2010 6:55 AM

That is right!

I am doing a translation of one of the major epics...

By the way, if you had already done some studies in this, what were the results?

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#3

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

05/28/2010 9:11 AM

Virtually every Planetarium software I have used for astronomy has a time and date entry function.

The most appreciated of these is called simply "The Sky" and is marketed by Software Bisque. It will not only display the most realistic sky but will display mythological characters as well.

L.J.

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#4

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

05/29/2010 11:22 AM

I've used Starry Night Pro for a number of years, and it is considered to be very accurate. You can buy it through the astronomy website 'Orion', linked below. There are a number of versions available, depending on your level of need and interest.

http://www.telescope.com/control/astronomy-software-and-dvds

You might also need a book that talks about how the ancients viewed the skies. I found the following book available via Amazon.com. (Have not read it, but I see it has gotten good reviews.)

http://www.amazon.com/History-Practice-Ancient-Astronomy/dp/0195095391/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275146254&sr=1-5

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

05/31/2010 1:52 AM

Usb

Both links you gave are opening to same Stary night purchase.

I could not see the book you mentioned.

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#7
In reply to #5

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

06/01/2010 3:35 AM
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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

06/01/2010 3:58 AM

Thanks Randall

I will purchase this book

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#9
In reply to #5

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

06/02/2010 9:03 PM

I see that Randall re-posted the link. Hope that book helps.

(By the way, you could have copied and pasted the URL into the address line of your browser. But, all's well that ends well.)

-usbport

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

06/02/2010 11:25 PM

Thanks

I did not thought that the URL might have linked to wrong location. Thus did not try your way. Yes, it works.

I unnecessarily troubled Randdall.

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

06/03/2010 4:16 AM

No trouble at all. Perhaps you could re-post with a very brief review if you do buy (and read*) the book.

* This is a terrible admission, but, I've got several books that I bought but never got round to reading.

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#12

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

07/15/2010 5:58 AM

I used a software that you have recommended (Cartes du ciel) I guess, and made a simulation regarding some dates on the epic!

Happy to see that they match almost with the description given on the text to the possibilities.

Those Hindus were looking to the Skye thousands (and thousands?) years ago, no doubt that

Tanks for the hint!

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#13

Re: Tracing the Ancient Skies

12/03/2010 9:19 PM

MSNBC Space photos collection on-line.A picture is worth a thousand words there.

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Anonymous Poster (1); electronick (2); gsuhas (4); Laughing Jaguar (1); Mr. Truman Brain (1); Randall (2); Usbport (2)

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