Events

Over luminous days and crystalline nights, ancient humans watched the sun, moon, stars, and planets wheel around the sky. The heavenly bodies were gods. Their gift was time, telling mortals when to sleep, to wake, to sow, to reap. Thus began a quest to predict the motions of celestial objects, one which would come to throw man out from his vaulted place at the center of the universe. It was an epic journey, covering some 150 generations and nearly 5000 years, punctuated by brilliant leaps of insight, at times against great resistance by religious authorities. This scientific achievement stands as testimony to the power and imagination of the human mind. This presentation is about that quest and how it has come to shape our modern worldview. This lecture is also available virtually.