Each person at night can see different celestial bodies, the value of which is +6m. But there are also people with an angular resolution of the eyes of more than 1’.
Since ancient times, there has been evidence, although never confirmed, that some representatives of humanity could see Uranus with the naked eye. And he, in turn, is the first planet to be discovered after using a telescope.
From the perfect experts of the heavenly era that they were, the Magi undoubtedly understood that what they saw on their long journey from Babylon to Bethlehem was something important to their experience as scholars of the heavens, even if on a popular level, it may go completely unnoticed. This is why the Magi saw the “star” and not others: only they, as expert star observers, could appreciate its peculiarity.
Of great interest are also the apocryphal Gospels, which the Church excludes from the list of canonical ones for doctrinal reasons. Once the Council of Trent the first lost credit to the latter, but had a very intense underground life at least until the Middle Ages, strongly influencing Christian iconography. The same apocryphal Gospels in their oral form seem to have a very remote origin, at least as canonical Gospels, and contain dogmatic elements which the Church considers valid.
What can you see at night?
When the sky is clear at night, a person can see about 2,500 stars, but heavenly dust reduces this figure to 2,000, and in large built-up cities, in general, to 500. It is interesting that celestial bodies have their own colors, but only very bright planets can be distinguished with the naked eye .
Another apocryphal Gospel, identified by Pseudo-Matthew, describes many details about the cave of Jesus and the brilliant star that shines there from dusk until dawn. These are the same records that identify the Magi with their names. Then his form changed and became like a column of light rising from the earth to the sky.
An important fact should be emphasized when we take a cue from the Gospel readings about the “star” of the Magi: the latter is very clear evidence of how secular Christianity has penetrated secular culture and in particular astrological. The accounts of Matthew and the Apocryphal Gospels have long had to contend with the lack of consideration of astrology that was common in the early centuries of Christianity. The worship of the Magi testified to the superiority of the Gospels from the beliefs of the pagans, represented the worship oriental culture Christian teaching and the completion of the reality of astrology.
It is possible to see without a telescope only some clusters of stars, the globular clusters Centaurus and 47 Tucanae, the Magellanic clouds - Small and Large. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter.
In December the Geminids meteor showers are clearly visible, and in mid-August the Perseids are visible. During the night, you can see almost 100 satellites, including the Milky Way and the space station.
Saint Basil noted that the star itself was neither a planet, nor a comma, nor anything else: it was something unusual, for example, in its movement, different from the movement famous stars, and, of course, could not be identified with a star from which a horoscope could be drawn. It was actually an angel, a direct sign of heaven.
We then draw the ID of the Magi's "star". First of all, it didn't seem exceptional for ordinary people, while his sighting was especially significant during solar opposition. In addition, the star showed itself for the first time, disappeared, and then reappeared.
All planets are divided into 2 categories relative to their position in the Earth's orbit. Thus, Venus and Mercury are included in the internal category, so they are visible in the sky in the evening and early in the morning.
Observing these planets makes it possible to detect their gradual removal from the Sun, then stopping when the greatest distance between them is reached. After this, the planet returns to its place, and then its visibility disappears at dawn.
However, immediately there is a very important first note: Matteo does not specifically mention the comet, but talks about the star in a general way. It is likely that even in early Christian communities the star of the Magi was interpreted as a comet. To the Babylonians they were considered astronomical objects, sources of good or bad feats depending on their position in the sky, brightness, color. Aristotle relegated them to the sublunary world as astronomical phenomena, while Ptolemy emphasized their importance for predicting important events.
There are countless examples that consider comets as an expected sign for the emergence of kings or emperors, or because of profound political changes, famine and pestilence. So it was in 118 a.k. a bright comet seemed to indicate the birth of Mithridates, king of Pontus. Later, according to Tacitus, we read horror in Rome: Nero was so afraid that he was 64 BC to sacrifice some famous Roman characters to avoid potential tragedies.
If we talk about Venus, then it can be visible even for several months, but Mercury - only for several weeks. When it moves away from the Sun, the angular distance is 28 degrees, and near it it is 18 degrees. But even so, you can see this planet with your own eyes.
Venus's distance from the Sun can reach 47 degrees. Since its brightness is down to -4m, it can be seen even in daytime. This means that when the sun is shining outside, especially in spring and summer, Venus is high above the horizon, but can be observed from Earth without special equipment.
We began to insistently talk about stellar asymmetry only from the great artist Giotto, who personally observed the remarkable appearance of Halley's Comet and, for obvious reasons, could not resist the idea of painting the great astronomical event at the site of the Nativity in the Scrovegni Chapel of Padua. Many historians believe that the popular tradition of the star The comet attracted special power from this performance.
There may be several tests to support the Kometarius hypothesis: the Magi appear twice as a star, the first when he leads them to Palestine, the second from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. We could interpret this as the comet being visible first in the evening and then in the morning, after passing to perihelion.
The movement of such bright planets in astronomy is divided into the following concepts:
- Compound;
- standing;
- Confrontation;
- Direct movement;
- Retrograde movement.
These states can be considered using the example of Jupiter. Its conjunction with the Sun means the minimum angular distance between them. Therefore, during the day it is impossible to see Jupiter with the naked eye. But after a few weeks, it can be seen in the morning in the eastern sky.
The famous star on which the attention of historians was most important was Halley's Comet, not without reason the most famous. Orazio and Ovidio lived in Rome. It moved later in the constellations Lynx, Leo Minor and Leo, passing close to Saturn. It reached the constellations Ophiuchus and Scorpius, where it disappeared from view due to the proximity of the Sun, 57 days after its observation. Thus, the comet turned out to be very bright and noticeable for two good months. It was the brightest comet for at least fifteen years before and after its appearance.
We must therefore rule out, given the goodness of historical verification, that Halley's Comet may have been the "Christmas Star", as some authors have noted in the past. The fundamental inconsistency between his appearance and the date of Christ's birth is not chronologically resolvable.
Now, the planet is moving away from the Sun in a direct motion. From West to East. It would seem that the Sun moves in the same way, but the planet moves more slowly, and therefore the angular distance increases significantly. Thus, Jupiter appears earlier each time, making it visible late at night.
After some time, this planet slows down and stops. This is called the station of Jupiter. Soon it is already moving in the opposite direction from the eastern side to the western side, that is, a backward movement occurs.
We must abandon, even if not completely, the other comet hypothesis. The chronicles of that time were too accurate, both in the Mediterranean and in the East, to miss the appearance of a bright comet. Let us recall that astronomers and astrologers of that time, just like the Magi, sometimes responded with their lives for incorrect predictions or inaccuracies that were negatively assessed by kings or emperors.
They talk about a "comet without a tail" and also about a "nova". Some historians and astronomers believe that the first sighting was a comet appearing in Capricorn; the second chronicle might instead point to a nova explosion in the constellation L'Aquila. Even recognizing the presence of a comet at 5 a.k. however, we have no news in the Mediterranean area, why then did the Magi go to Jerusalem? Why not in the other direction? Comets stop in the sky due to the movement of the Earth's rotation and between the same constellations for their own movement: therefore they always point in different directions.
When the angular distance between Jupiter and the Sun reaches 180 degrees, they will be on opposite parts of the sky - this is an opposition when the planet can be observed in its most favorable period. Further, Jupiter moves to a new standing point.
After such a loop in the sky, the planet carries out a direct movement directed to the east, and the Sun, in turn, catches up with it. After some time, Jupiter is practically indistinguishable during the evening dawn. This is the end of the planet's visibility period. After connecting with the Sun, the planet will be visible early in the morning, and it will begin its usual trajectory of movement.
We must think that the celestial phenomenon witnessed by the Magi gave them a very precise clue from an astrological point of view, which connected the appearance, as we will see, with Jerusalem and with the Jews. This is very a rare event, which can be observed with the naked eye, since in this case it must occur in our galaxy: the average frequency of such a cataclysm in our galactic system occurs every 400 years.
Kepler's supernova became as bright as Venus within a few weeks: the astronomer thought it might be an event very similar to the star of Matthew. Even Kepler, unaware of the physical origin of the supernova, recognized this difficulty, so much so that he sought alternative solutions, sensing perhaps the first, new and very exciting possibility.
A person who knows where to look can quite easily see Venus, Mars and Jupiter in the sky at night. Thus, Venus is the brightest star after the Sun and Moon. Regarding Jupiter, it is the largest in the sky, and its yellowish glow stands out among the white and blue stars.
Triple conjunctions between Jupiter and Saturn are repeated every 120 years, but it takes about 800 years because this phenomenon is repeated in the constellation Pisces! This approach of two planets being created over a period of time to accompany the Magi throughout their journey seems a very good candidate for the celestial event described in the Gospel of Matthew. We remembered that this event was not particularly bright: in fact, the minimum distance between the two planets was about one degree, so the phenomenon was not very impressive to the casual observer.
Saturn and Mars are often confused with small stars. This is due to the distant location of Saturn from the Earth and the small size of Mars. You should not try to notice them in the evening or in the morning, only late at night.
Doesn't exist in the world star maps, where the planets will be indicated, since they are constantly changing their location. If you carefully observe the night sky, you will notice their gradual movement within the zodiac constellations.
The zodiac constellation Pisces had a special meaning for the Jews, and the modern presence in this region of the sky of two planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, certainly could not go unnoticed. Saturn was the star of the righteous, and Pisces, the sign of water, was always associated with Moses, the liberator saved from the waters of the Nile. The element of water, which we must remember, very often appears with Christian symbolism.
Obviously, such a rare event could only be interpreted by astrologers of the East as a sign that a new king, a great prophet, perhaps a liberating Messiah, would be born in Israel. This original interpretation of Kepler was taken up in the 1970s by the English astronomer David Hughes, who published perhaps the most famous book on the theme of the star of the Magi. Hughes reconstructs the event with great historical accuracy, which was facilitated, in particular, by the discovery of some ancient Babylonian documents written in cuneiform symbols: in them, a triple planetary conjunction occurred precisely in 7 a.k. among the stars of Pisces.
Anyone who periodically looks at the night sky often does not realize that he sees not only stars, but also planets such as Venus and Mercury, Jupiter and others. Since the planets are wandering, they are in different places each time. Depending on the phase of movement, they can be observed in different time days on the firmament.
Hughes also attempts an accurate reconstruction of the date of Christ's birth. The magicians foresaw in advance three dates for the maximum approach of Jupiter and Saturn, that is, May 27, October 6 and December 1 from 7 a.m. They would interpret the appearance of the planets in opposition, that is, beginning in the evening, as the date of the birth of the Messiah. This event took place around mid-September: they will therefore travel in the summer and reach Jerusalem in November. Once in the city they were interrogated by Herod, who was intrigued by their journey. The Magi would have discovered, in addition to the probable date of Jesus' birth, also the fact that the two planets had been promising neighbors in the sky since the previous spring.
Keys to Olympiad assignments in astronomy 7-8 GRADES
Task 1. An astronomer on Earth observes a total lunar eclipse. What can an astronaut observe on the Moon at this time?
Solution: If there is a total lunar eclipse on Earth, an observer on the Moon will be able to see the total solar eclipse- The Earth will cover the solar disk.
It was because of this news that Herod decided to put all the children of Bethlehem under his control for two years to make sure that a new king would come to overthrow him. The magicians, meanwhile, left Jerusalem at the beginning of November, again observing the conjunction of the planets. Finding that Jupiter and Saturn were still in the heavens, preserving their astral message, caused them great joy when we read in the Gospel: “And they, seeing the star again, rejoiced with great joy,” Matthew.
What conclusions can we draw from a strictly scientific point of view about the real existence and nature of the star of the Magi? Of course, we cannot claim that there is definitive proof in favor of one thesis or the other, and that there are incontrovertible facts that allow us to say whether the star of the Magi really existed or is rather a story of symbolic value. It is possible that in the future new archaeological or historiographical elements will appear with early years Christianity: they may give weight to one interpretation over another.
Task 2. What evidence of the sphericity of the Earth could have been known to ancient scientists?
Solution: Evidence of the sphericity of the Earth, known to ancient scientists:
the rounded shape of the edge of the earth's shadow on the disk of the Moon during lunar eclipses;
the gradual appearance and disappearance of ships as they approach and move away from the shore;
change in the altitude of the North Star when changing the latitude of the observation site;
Removing the horizon as you climb upward, for example, to the top of a lighthouse or tower.
Task 3.
On an autumn night, a hunter walks into the forest in the direction of the North Star. Immediately after sunrise he returns back. How should a hunter navigate by the position of the sun?
Solution: The hunter walked into the forest to the north. Returning, he should move south. Since the Sun is near the equinox in autumn, it rises close to the east point. Therefore, you need to walk so that the Sun is on the left.
Task 4.
What luminaries are visible during the day and under what conditions?
Solution: The Sun, Moon and Venus are visible to the naked eye, and stars up to 4 m - using a telescope.
Task 5. Determine which celestial objects do not change their right ascension, declination, azimuth and altitude due to the daily rotation of the Earth? Do such objects exist? Give an example:
Solution: If the star is located in the North or South Pole of the world, all four coordinates for an observer anywhere on Earth will be unchanged due to the rotation of the planet around its axis. Near the North Pole of the world there is such a star - Polaris.
Keys to Olympiad assignments in astronomy GRADE 9
Task 1. The steamer, having left Vladivostok on Saturday, November 6, arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday, November 23. How many days was he on the road?
Solution: On its way to San Francisco, the steamer crossed the international date line from west to east, subtracting one day. The number of days on the way is 23 – (6 – 1) = 18 days.
Task 2. The altitude of a star located on the celestial equator at the time of its upper culmination is 30. What is the height of the Celestial Pole at the observation location? (You can make a drawing for clarity).
Solution: If the star is at its highest culmination on the celestial equator,h = 90 0 - . Therefore, the latitude of the place = 90 0 – h = 60 0 . The height of the Celestial Pole is equal to the latitudeh p = = 60 0
Problem 3 . On March 4, 2007, a total lunar eclipse occurred. What and where was the Moon in the sky two weeks immediately after sunset?
Solution . A lunar eclipse occurs during the full moon phase. Since a little less than two weeks pass between the phases of the full moon and the new moon, then two weeks immediately after sunset, the Moon will be visible in the form of a narrow crescent above the horizon on its western side.
Problem 4 . q = 10 7 J/kg, solar mass 2 * 10 30 kg, and the luminosity is 4 * 10 26
Solution . Q = qM = 2*10 37 t = Q: L = 2 *10 37 /(4* 10 26 )= 5 * 10 10
Task 5. How to prove that the Moon is not made of cast iron, if it is known that its mass is 81 times less than the mass of the Earth, and its radius is approximately four times less than that of the Earth? Consider the density of cast iron to be approximately 7 times the density of water.
Solution . The simplest thing is to determine the average density of the Moon and compare it with the table density value for different materials: p =m/V. Then, substituting the mass and volume of the Moon into this expression in fractions of Earth sizes, we get: 1/81:1/4 3 =0.8.The average density of the Moon is only 0.8 of the Earth’s density (or 4.4 g/cm 3 -true value average density of the Moon 3.3 g/cm 3 ). But this value is also less than the density of cast iron, which is approximately 7g/cm 3 .
Keys to Olympiad tasks in astronomy 10-11 GRADES
Task 1. The sun at the north pole rose on the meridian of Yekaterinburg (λ= 6030` east). Where (approximately) will it rise next?
Solution: With sunrise, polar day began at the North Pole. The next time the Sun will rise at the beginning of the next polar day, i.e. exactly one year later.
If in a year the Earth made an integer number of revolutions around its axis, then the next sunrise would also be on our meridian. But the Earth makes about a quarter more revolutions (hence the leap year).
This quarter turn corresponds to the rotation of the Earth by 90 0 and since its rotation occurs from west to east, the sun will rise on the meridian with longitude 60.5 0 e.d. – 90 0 = - 29.5 0 , i.e. 29.5 0 w.d. At this longitude is the eastern part of Greenland.
Task 2. Travelers noticed that according to local time the lunar eclipse began at 5 hours 13 minutes, while according to the astronomical calendar this eclipse should begin at 3 hours 51 minutes Greenwich time. What is the geographic longitude of the place where the travelers are observed?
Solution: The difference in geographical longitude of two points is equal to the difference in the local times of these points. In our problem, we know the local time at the point where the lunar eclipse was observed at 5 hours 13 minutes and the local Greenwich (Worldwide) time of the beginning of the same eclipse at 3 hours 51 minutes, i.e. local prime meridian time.
The difference between these times is 1 hour 22 minutes, which means that the longitude of the place where the lunar eclipse was observed is 1 hour 22 minutes east longitude, because The time at this longitude is greater than Greenwich.
Task 3. At what speed and in what direction should a plane fly at the latitude of Yekaterinburg for local solar time to stop for the plane's passengers?
Solution: The plane must fly west at the speed of the Earth's rotationV= 2πR/T
At the latitude of YekaterinburgR = R eq cos , E 57 0
V= 2π 6371 cos 57 0 /24 3600 = 0.25 km/s
Task 4. IN late XIX V. Some scientists believed that the source of the sun's energy was chemical combustion reactions, in particular the combustion of coal. Assuming that the specific heat of combustion of coalq = 10 7 J/kg, solar mass 2 * 10 30 kg, and the luminosity is 4 * 10 26 W, provide strong evidence that this hypothesis is incorrect.
Solution: Heat reserves excluding oxygen areQ = qM = 2 *10 37 J. This supply will last for a whilet = Q: L = 2* 10 37 / 4* 10 26 = 5* 10 10 c = 1700 years. Julius Caesar lived more than 2000 years ago, dinosaurs froze out about 60 million years ago, so that due to chemical reactions The sun can't shine. (If someone talks about a nuclear power source, that will be great.)
Task 5. Try to find a complete answer to the question: under what conditions does the change of day and night occur anywhere on the planet?
Solution: To ensure that there is no change of day and night anywhere on the planet, three conditions must be met simultaneously:
a) the angular velocities of orbital and axial rotation must coincide (the length of the year and sidereal day are the same),
b) the axis of rotation of the planet must be perpendicular to the orbital plane,
V) angular velocity orbital motion must be constant, the planet must have a circular orbit.