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A brief history of...
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Things you need to know about... Our Solar System
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun_and_planets/
The Solar System is the Sun and the objects that orbit the Sun. These are a planetary system (of eight planets) and various secondary bodies: dwarf planets and other small objects that orbit the Sun directly, as well as satellites (moons) that orbit many planets and smaller objects. The Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant molecular cloud. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun, with most of the remaining mass contained in Jupiter. The four smaller inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, also called the terrestrial planets, are primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets, called the gas giants, are substantially more massive than the terrestrials. The two largest, Jupiter and Saturn, are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium; the two outermost planets,Uranus and Neptune, are composed largely of substances with relatively high melting points (compared with hydrogen and helium), called ices, such as water, ammonia and methane, and are often referred to separately as "ice giants". All planets have almost circular orbits that lie within a nearly flat disc called the ecliptic plane.
The Solar System also contains regions populated by smaller objects. The asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, mostly contains objects composed, like the terrestrial planets, of rock and metal. Beyond Neptune's orbit lie the Kuiper belt and scattered disc, linked populations of trans-Neptunian objects composed mostly of ices. Within these populations are several dozen to more than ten thousand objects that may be large enough to have been rounded by their own gravity. Such objects are referred to as dwarf planets. Identified dwarf planets include the asteroid Ceres and the trans-Neptunian objects Pluto and Eris. In addition to these two regions, various other small-body populations including comets, centaursand interplanetary dust freely travel between regions. Six of the planets, at least three of the dwarf planets, and many of the smaller bodies are orbited by natural satellites, usually termed "moons" after Earth's Moon. Each of the outer planets is encircled by planetary rings of dust and other small objects.
For many thousands of years, humanity, with a few notable exceptions, did not recognize the existence of the Solar System. People believed the Earth to be stationary at the centre of the universe and categorically different from the divine or ethereal objects that moved through the sky. Although the Greek philosopher Aristarchus of Samos had speculated on a heliocentric reordering of the cosmos, Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to develop a mathematically predictive heliocentric system. His 17th-century successors, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton, developed an understanding of physics that led to the gradual acceptance of the idea that the Earth moves around the Sun and that the planets are governed by the same physical laws that governed the Earth. Additionally, the invention of the telescope led to the discovery of further planets and moons. In more recent times, improvements in the telescope and the use of unmanned spacecraft have enabled the investigation of geological phenomena, such as mountains and craters, and seasonal meteorological phenomena, such as clouds, dust storms, and ice caps on the other planets.
The planets of our solar system in comparison to one another:
Neptune
Neptune, the outermost planet in the Solar System, cannot be seen from Earth without a telescope or binoculars. It is covered by icy, bright blue methane clouds that whip around the globe at speeds of more than 700mph (1,100km/h).
Though its diameter is four times that of the Earth's and it is 17 times as massive, it is less dense and doesn't have a solid surface. Eleven moons orbit Neptune, the largest of which is Triton.
Named after the Roman god of the sea, its astronomical symbol is ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune's trident.
Uranus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. It has no natural satellite. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows. Because Venus is an inferior planet from Earth, it never appears to venture far from the Sun: its elongation reaches a maximum of 47.8°. Venus reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise or shortly after sunset, for which reason it has been referred to by ancient cultures as the Morning Star or Evening Star.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun_and_planets/
The Solar System is the Sun and the objects that orbit the Sun. These are a planetary system (of eight planets) and various secondary bodies: dwarf planets and other small objects that orbit the Sun directly, as well as satellites (moons) that orbit many planets and smaller objects. The Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of a giant molecular cloud. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun, with most of the remaining mass contained in Jupiter. The four smaller inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, also called the terrestrial planets, are primarily composed of rock and metal. The four outer planets, called the gas giants, are substantially more massive than the terrestrials. The two largest, Jupiter and Saturn, are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium; the two outermost planets,Uranus and Neptune, are composed largely of substances with relatively high melting points (compared with hydrogen and helium), called ices, such as water, ammonia and methane, and are often referred to separately as "ice giants". All planets have almost circular orbits that lie within a nearly flat disc called the ecliptic plane.
The Solar System also contains regions populated by smaller objects. The asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter, mostly contains objects composed, like the terrestrial planets, of rock and metal. Beyond Neptune's orbit lie the Kuiper belt and scattered disc, linked populations of trans-Neptunian objects composed mostly of ices. Within these populations are several dozen to more than ten thousand objects that may be large enough to have been rounded by their own gravity. Such objects are referred to as dwarf planets. Identified dwarf planets include the asteroid Ceres and the trans-Neptunian objects Pluto and Eris. In addition to these two regions, various other small-body populations including comets, centaursand interplanetary dust freely travel between regions. Six of the planets, at least three of the dwarf planets, and many of the smaller bodies are orbited by natural satellites, usually termed "moons" after Earth's Moon. Each of the outer planets is encircled by planetary rings of dust and other small objects.
For many thousands of years, humanity, with a few notable exceptions, did not recognize the existence of the Solar System. People believed the Earth to be stationary at the centre of the universe and categorically different from the divine or ethereal objects that moved through the sky. Although the Greek philosopher Aristarchus of Samos had speculated on a heliocentric reordering of the cosmos, Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to develop a mathematically predictive heliocentric system. His 17th-century successors, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler and Isaac Newton, developed an understanding of physics that led to the gradual acceptance of the idea that the Earth moves around the Sun and that the planets are governed by the same physical laws that governed the Earth. Additionally, the invention of the telescope led to the discovery of further planets and moons. In more recent times, improvements in the telescope and the use of unmanned spacecraft have enabled the investigation of geological phenomena, such as mountains and craters, and seasonal meteorological phenomena, such as clouds, dust storms, and ice caps on the other planets.
The planets of our solar system in comparison to one another:
Neptune
Neptune, the outermost planet in the Solar System, cannot be seen from Earth without a telescope or binoculars. It is covered by icy, bright blue methane clouds that whip around the globe at speeds of more than 700mph (1,100km/h).
Though its diameter is four times that of the Earth's and it is 17 times as massive, it is less dense and doesn't have a solid surface. Eleven moons orbit Neptune, the largest of which is Triton.
Named after the Roman god of the sea, its astronomical symbol is ♆, a stylised version of the god Neptune's trident.
Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. It has the third-largest planetary radius and fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar System. Uranus is similar in composition to Neptune, and both are of different chemical composition than the larger gas giantsJupiter and Saturn. For this reason, astronomers sometimes place them in a separate category called "ice giants". Uranus's atmosphere, although similar to Jupiter's and Saturn's in its primary composition of hydrogen and helium, contains more "ices" such as water, ammonia, and methane, along with traces of hydrocarbons. It is the coldest planetary atmosphere in the Solar System, with a minimum temperature of 49 K (−224.2 °C), and has a complex, layered cloud structure, with water thought to make up the lowest clouds, and methane the uppermost layer of clouds. In contrast, the interior of Uranus is mainly composed of ices and rock.
It is the only planet whose name is derived from a figure from Greek mythology rather than Roman mythology like the other planets, from the Latinized version of the Greek god of the sky, Ouranos.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Named after the Romangod of agriculture, Saturn, its astronomical symbol (♄) represents the god's sickle. Saturn is a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of Earth. While only one-eighth the average density of Earth, with its larger volume Saturn is just over 95 times more massive.
Saturn's interior is probably composed of a core of iron, nickel and rock (silicon and oxygen compounds), surrounded by a deep layer of metallic hydrogen, an intermediate layer of liquid hydrogen and liquid helium and an outer gaseous layer. The planet exhibits a pale yellow hue due to ammonia crystals in its upper atmosphere.
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth of that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in the Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Together, these four planets are sometimes referred to as the Jovian or outer planets. The planet was known by astronomers of ancient times, and was associated with the mythology and religious beliefs of many cultures. The Romans named the planet after the Roman god Jupiter. When viewed from Earth, Jupiter can reach anapparent magnitude of −2.94, bright enough to cast shadows, and making it on average the third-brightest object in the night skyafter the Moon and Venus. (Mars can briefly match Jupiter's brightness at certain points in its orbit. Jupiter's symbol 
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun. It is the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets. It is sometimes referred to as the world or the Blue Planet.
Earth formed approximately 4.54 billion years ago, and life appeared on its surface within its first billion years. Earth's biospherethen significantly altered the atmospheric and other basic physical conditions, which enabled the proliferation of organisms as well as the formation of the ozone layer, which together with Earth's magnetic field blocked harmful solar radiation, and permitted formerly ocean-confined life to move safely to land. The physical properties of the Earth, as well as its geological history and orbit, have allowed life to persist.
Earth's lithosphere is divided into several rigid segments, or tectonic plates, that migrate across the surface over periods of many millions of years. Over 70% percent of Earth's surface is covered with water, with the remainder consisting of continents and islands which together have many lakes and other sources of water that contribute to the hydrosphere.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System, after Mercury. Named after the Roman god of war, it is often described as the "Red Planet" because the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin atmosphere, having surface features reminiscent both of the impact craters of the Moon and the volcanoes, valleys, deserts, and polar ice caps of Earth. The rotational period and seasonal cycles of Mars are likewise similar to those of Earth, as is the tilt that produces the seasons. Mars is the site of Olympus Mons, the second highest known mountain within the Solar System (the tallest on a planet), and of Valles Marineris, one of the largest canyons. The smooth Borealis basin in the northern hemisphere covers 40% of the planet and may be a giant impact feature. Mars has two known moons, Phobos and Deimos, which are small and irregularly shaped. These may be captured asteroids, similar to 5261 Eureka, a Martian trojan asteroid. 
Mercury
Mercury is the smallest and closest to the Sun of the eight planets in the Solar System, with an orbital period of about 88 Earthdays. Seen from the Earth, it appears to move around its orbit in about 116 days, which is much faster than any other planet. This rapid motion may have led to it being named after the Roman deity Mercury, the fast-flying messenger to the gods. Because it has almost no atmosphere to retain heat, Mercury's surface experiences the greatest temperature variation of all the planets, ranging from 100 K (−173 °C; −280 °F) at night to 700 K (427 °C; 800 °F) during the day at some equatorial regions. The poles are constantly below 180 K (−93 °C; −136 °F). Mercury's axis has the smallest tilt of any of the Solar System's planets (about 1⁄30 of a degree), but it has the largest orbital eccentricity. At aphelion, Mercury is about 1.5 times as far from the Sun as it is at perihelion. Mercury's surface is heavily cratered and similar in appearance to the Moon, indicating that it has been geologically inactive for billions of years.
☿
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. It has no natural satellite. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows. Because Venus is an inferior planet from Earth, it never appears to venture far from the Sun: its elongation reaches a maximum of 47.8°. Venus reaches its maximum brightness shortly before sunrise or shortly after sunset, for which reason it has been referred to by ancient cultures as the Morning Star or Evening Star.
I looked at design which incorporates the solar system:
Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/Planetary-Anatomy/8975833
Source:https://www.behance.net/gallery/Planets/7791403
Astronomical symbols
Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/Planetary-Anatomy/8975833
Source:https://www.behance.net/gallery/Planets/7791403
Astronomical symbols
Source: http://www.universetoday.com/35931/symbols-of-the-planets/
Mercury was named after the winged messenger of the gods, and the symbol is connected to him. The symbol is a circle on top of a cross with two curved horns sticking out of it, representing Mercury’s winged helmet on top of his caduceus – a special staff carried by heralds often depicted with intertwined snakes and wings at the top. Interestingly, the caduceus symbol often represents medicine in North America because it is confused with a similar symbol.
The symbol for Venus stands for Venus’ hand mirror. Interestingly, this is also a common symbol for female. That is not very surprising though considering Venus is the Roman goddess of beauty. This is also the chemical symbol for copper, and mirrors used to be made out of polished copper leading historians to draw a connection between the two.
Earth is not named after a mythological god, so its symbol is not linked to mythology. There are several theories as to what Earth’s symbol means. It is a circle with a cross in the center that could represent the main compass points, which is the most popular theory. Additionally, it could stand for a globe divided into four quadrants. It may also represent the Globus Cruciger, which is a symbol for Christ’s reign over the Earth. This ancient symbol of a circle cut into four has been used in many cultures and even showed up in Norse mythology.
Mars is named after the Roman god of war. The symbol represents Mars’ shield and spear. This is also the male symbol, which makes sense because war was considered a man’s task and occupation.
After the first four planets, the symbols get more complex. Jupiter’s symbol , which looks like an oddly shaped four, has a number of possible meanings. It may be a hieroglyph of an eagle, which was Jupiter’s bird or a lightning bolt – Jupiter’s weapon. It could also be the first letter in Zeus’ name – Zeus is the Greek version of Jupiter – with a vertical line cutting through it to indicate it is an abbreviation.
Although Saturn’s symbol looks somewhat like a decorative “h”, it is actually supposed to represent Saturn’s sickle or scythe. Saturn is the Roman god of agriculture, so the symbol is linked to him.
Uranus is a combination of the symbols for the Sun and Mars. Uranus has the circle with the dot in the center, which is the symbol for the Sun. It also has an arrow branching out from it, representing Mars’ spear. It combines these two motifs because Uranus personified heaven in Roman mythology, and the heavens were ruled by the Sun’s light and Mars’ power.
Neptune is named after the Roman god of the sea, which is very fitting considering the planet’s blue-green color. Neptune’s symbol is the sea god’s trident. There are also symbols for the Sun, Moon, and a number of other celestial bodies, such as asteroids and dwarf planets.
Source: http://astronomer.proboards.com/thread/2580
Between about 200 B.C.E. and 200 C.E., Greek astronomers learned how to explain and predict the appearances and motions of the heavenly bodies with remarkable precision. At the same time, they took great interest in explaining astronomy and its uses to the general public.
Zodiacs
In both astrology and historical astronomy, the zodiac (Greek: ζῳδιακός, zōidiakos) is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year. The paths of the Moon and visible planets also remain close to the ecliptic, within the belt of the zodiac, which extends 8-9° north or south of the ecliptic, as measured in celestial latitude. Because the divisions are regular, they do not correspond exactly to the twelveconstellations after which they are named.
Historically, these twelve divisions are called signs. Essentially, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, or more specifically an ecliptic coordinate system, which takes the ecliptic as the origin of latitude, and the position of the sun at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.
Usage
The zodiac was in use by the Roman era, based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of theChaldean period (mid-1st millennium BC), which, in turn, derived from an earlier system of lists of stars along the ecliptic. The construction of the zodiac is described in Ptolemy's vast 2nd century AD work, the Almagest.
The term zodiac derives from Latin zōdiacus, which in its turn comes from the Greek ζῳδιακὸς κύκλος (zōdiakos kyklos), meaning "circle of animals", derived from ζῴδιον (zōdion), the diminutive of ζῷον (zōon) "animal". The name is motivated by the fact that half of the signs of the classical Greek zodiac are represented as animals (besides two mythological hybrids).
Although the zodiac remains the basis of the ecliptic coordinate system in use in astronomy besides the equatorial one, the term and the names of the twelve signs are today mostly associated with horoscopic astrology. The term "zodiac" may also refer to the region of the celestial sphere encompassing the paths of the planets corresponding to the band of about eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic. The zodiac of a given planet is the band that contains the path of that particular body; e.g., the "zodiac of the Moon" is the band of five degrees above and below the ecliptic. By extension, the "zodiac of the comets" may refer to the band encompassing most short-period comets.
Antikythera Mechanism
The Antikythera mechanism (/ˌæntɨkɨˈθɪərə/ ant-i-ki-theer-ə or /ˌæntɨˈkɪθərə/ ant-i-kith-ə-rə) is an ancient analog computer designed to predict astronomical positions and eclipses. It was recovered in 1900–1901 from theAntikythera wreck, a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera. Although the computer's construction has been attributed to the Greeks and dated to the early 1st century BC, its significance and complexity were not understood until a century after its recovery, when, at 1970s, it was analyzed with modern X-ray technology. Technological artifacts approaching its complexity and workmanship did not appear again until the 14th century, when mechanical astronomical clocks began to be built in Western Europe.
Professor Michael Edmunds of Cardiff University, who led a 2006 study of the mechanism, said:
This device is just extraordinary, the only thing of its kind. The design is beautiful, the astronomy is exactly right. The way the mechanics are designed just makes your jaw drop. Whoever has done this has done it extremely carefully ... in terms of historic and scarcity value, I have to regard this mechanism as being more valuable than the Mona Lisa.—30 November 2006
The mechanism was housed in a wooden box approximately 340 × 180 × 90 mm in size and comprised 30 bronze gears(although more could have been lost). The largest gear, clearly visible in fragment A, was approximately 140 mm in diameter and had 223 teeth. The mechanism's remains were found as 82 separate fragments of which only seven contain any gears or significant inscriptions.
The Antikythera mechanism is kept at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. It is now displayed at the temporary exhibition about the Antikythera Shipwreck, accompanied by reconstructions made by Ioannis Theofanidis, Derek de Solla Price, Michael Wright, the Thessaloniki University and Dionysios Kriaris. Other reconstructions are on display at theAmerican Computer Museum in Bozeman, Montana, the Children's Museum of Manhattan in New York, at Astronomisch-Physikalisches Kabinett in Kassel, Germany, and at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris.
Documentary I watched on the mechanism:
Source: http://www.antikythera-mechanism.gr/faq/general-questions/what-does-it-do
The mechanism has 3 main dials, one on the front, and two on the back.
The front dial is marked with the divisions of the Egyptian calendar, or the Sothic year. Inside this there is a second dial marked with the Greek signs of the Zodiac. This second dial is moveable dial so that it can be adjusted to compensate for leap years.
The front dial probably carried three hands, one showing the date, and two others showing the positions of the Sun and the Moon. The Moon indicator is ingeniously adjusted to show the fist anomaly of the Moon's orbit. It is reasonable to suppose the Sun indicator had a similar adjustment. The front dial also includes a second mechanism with a spherical model of the Moon that displays its phase.
There is reference in the inscriptions for the planets Mars and Venus, and it would have certainly been within the capabilities of the maker of this mechanism to include gearing to show their positions. There is some speculation that the mechanism may have had indicators for the 5 planets known to the Greeks.
Finally the front dial includes a parapegma used to mark the rising and setting of specific stars. Each star is thought to be identified by Greek characters which cross references details inscribed on the mechanism.
The upper back dial, is in the form of a spiral, with 47 divisions per turn, displaying the 235 months of the 19 year Metonic cycle. This dial contains a smaller subsidiary dial which displays the 76 year Callippic cycle. (There are 4 Metonic cycles, within 1 Callippic cycle.) Both of these cycles are important in fixing calendars. The lower back dial is also in the form of a spiral, with 223 divisions showing the Saros eclipse cycle. It also has a smaller subsidiary dial which displays the 54 year Exeligmos cycle. (There are 3 Saros cycles, within 1 Exeligmos cycle.)
The Moon 
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon
The Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth and the fifth largest moon in the Solar System. It is the largest natural satellite of a planet in the Solar System relative to the size of its primary, having 27% the diameter and 60% the density of Earth, resulting in 1⁄81 its mass. Among satellites with known densities, the Moon is the second densest, after Io, a satellite of Jupiter.
The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth, always showing the same face with its near side marked by dark volcanic mariathat fill between the bright ancient crustal highlands and the prominent impact craters. It is the brightest object in the sky after theSun, although its surface is actually dark, with a reflectance just slightly higher than that of worn asphalt. Its prominence in the sky and its regular cycle of phases have, since ancient times, made the Moon an important cultural influence on language,calendars, art and mythology. The Moon's gravitational influence produces the ocean tides and the minute lengthening of the day. The Moon's current orbital distance, about thirty times the diameter of Earth, causes it to appear almost the same size in the sky as the Sun, allowing it to cover the Sun nearly precisely in total solar eclipses. This matching of apparent visual size is a coincidence. The Moon's linear distance from Earth is currently increasing at a rate of 3.82±0.07 cm per year, but this rate is not constant.
The Moon is thought to have formed nearly 4.5 billion years ago, not long after Earth. Although there have been several hypotheses for its origin in the past, the current most widely accepted explanation is that the Moon formed from the debris left over after a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized body.
The Moon is the only celestial body other than Earth on which humans have set foot. The Soviet Union's Luna programme was the first to reach the Moon with unmanned spacecraft in 1959; the United States' NASA Apollo program achieved the only manned missions to date, beginning with the first manned lunar orbiting mission by Apollo 8 in 1968, and six manned lunar landings between 1969 and 1972, with the first being Apollo 11. These missions returned over 380 kg of lunar rocks, which have been used to develop a geological understanding of the Moon's origins, the formation of its internal structure, and its subsequent history.
After the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, the Moon has been visited only by unmanned spacecraft. Of these, orbital missions have dominated: Since 2004, Japan, China, India, the United States, and the European Space Agency have each sent lunar orbiters, which have contributed to confirming the discovery of lunar water ice in permanently shadowed craters at the poles and bound into the lunar regolith. The post-Apollo era has also seen two rover missions: the final Soviet Lunokhod mission in 1973, and China's ongoing Chang'e 3 mission, which deployed its Yutu rover on 14 December 2013.
Future manned missions to the Moon have been planned, including government as well as privately funded efforts. The Moon remains, under the Outer Space Treaty, free to all nations to explore for peaceful purposes.
The moon in a solar eclipse
Early studies
Understanding of the Moon's cycles was an early development of astronomy: by the5th century BC, Babylonian astronomers had recorded the 18-year Saros cycle of lunar eclipses, and Indian astronomers had described the Moon's monthly elongation. The Chinese astronomer Shi Shen (fl. 4th century BC) gave instructions for predicting solar and lunar eclipses. Later, the physical form of the Moon and the cause of moonlight became understood. The ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras (d. 428 BC) reasoned that the Sun and Moon were both giant spherical rocks, and that the latter reflected the light of the former. Although the Chinese of the Han Dynastybelieved the Moon to be energy equated to qi, their 'radiating influence' theory also recognized that the light of the Moon was merely a reflection of the Sun, and Jing Fang (78–37 BC) noted the sphericity of the Moon. In 2nd century AD Lucian wrote a novel where the heroes travel to the Moon, which is inhabited. In 499 AD, the Indian astronomer Aryabhata mentioned in his Aryabhatiya that reflected sunlight is the cause of the shining of the Moon. The astronomer and physicist Alhazen (965–1039) found that sunlight was not reflected from the Moon like a mirror, but that light was emitted from every part of the Moon's sunlit surface in all directions. Shen Kuo(1031–1095) of the Song Dynasty created an allegory equating the waxing and waning of the Moon to a round ball of reflective silver that, when doused with white powder and viewed from the side, would appear to be a crescent.
In Aristotle's (384–322 BC) description of the universe, the Moon marked the boundary between the spheres of the mutable elements (earth, water, air and fire), and the imperishable stars of aether, an influential philosophy that would dominate for centuries. However, in the 2nd century BC, Seleucus of Seleucia correctly theorized that tides were due to the attraction of the Moon, and that their height depends on the Moon's position relative to the Sun. In the same century, Aristarchus computed the size and distance of the Moon from Earth, obtaining a value of about twenty times the radius of Earth for the distance. These figures were greatly improved by Ptolemy (90–168 AD): his values of a mean distance of 59 times Earth's radius and a diameter of 0.292 Earth diameters were close to the correct values of about 60 and 0.273 respectively. Archimedes (287–212 BC) invented a planetarium calculating motions of the Moon and the known planets.
During the Middle Ages, before the invention of the telescope, the Moon was increasingly recognised as a sphere, though many believed that it was "perfectly smooth". In 1609,Galileo Galilei drew one of the first telescopic drawings of the Moon in his book Sidereus Nuncius and noted that it was not smooth but had mountains and craters. Telescopic mapping of the Moon followed: later in the 17th century, the efforts of Giovanni Battista Riccioli and Francesco Maria Grimaldi led to the system of naming of lunar features in use today. The more exact 1834–36 Mappa Selenographica of Wilhelm Beer and Johann Heinrich Mädler, and their associated 1837 book Der Mond, the first trigonometrically accurate study of lunar features, included the heights of more than a thousand mountains, and introduced the study of the Moon at accuracies possible in earthly geography. Lunar craters, first noted by Galileo, were thought to be volcanic until the 1870s proposal of Richard Proctor that they were formed by collisions. This view gained support in 1892 from the experimentation of geologist Grove Karl Gilbert, and from comparative studies from 1920 to the 1940s,leading to the development of lunar stratigraphy, which by the 1950s was becoming a new and growing branch of astrogeology.
Lunar Days
The meaning of Lunar Days has long lingered on most people’s minds. They can be defined as the two successive births of the Moon but only the first and final days differ from said occurrence.
Whenever the New Moon occurs, this marks the birth of the first Lunar Day. It ends during Moonrise which happens at the next New Moon. The period is not a lengthy one, in fact it lasts just several minutes.
The final Lunar Day come to an end just before the next lunar month is about to start. This period is also of a short-length.
Most people are still clueless about the Moon’s movement therefore the period in which an entire lunar month lasts is rather different from account to the other. Some lunar months bear 30 full days whereas some only contain 29 days.
The longitude and latitude of certain places are said to influence the period of the Moon’s rising. If you want to utilize the Universal Lunar Calendar, you should always choose the time selection in accordance to your own city.
The longitude and latitude of certain places are said to influence the period of the Moon’s rising. If you want to utilize the Universal Lunar Calendar, you should always choose the time selection in accordance to your own city.
Moon Day 1
This is an ideal day to create plans and can mark the start of meaningful beginnings. However, you should remember not to pursue a new issue or direction too eagerly as long as the Moon is still hidden from view. You can however jot down your intentions regarding this new activity in your journal and anticipate for it when the new month arrives.
You may also think carefully about your next course of action. Plan wisely and act cautiously towards this new intention. Set aside other activities for other days.
Moon day 2
This day is perfect to advocate new beginnings. It is also ideal for those thinking to start a family or build a new abode. You are advised to plan your home relocation, extended trips and property purchasing activities but do proceed with care as you may encounter financial difficulty or theft.
Moon Day 3
Depending on traditions, the third Moon Day bears different meanings. According to Vedic tradition, you are suggested to pursue a new profession. Avesta recommends you to be fully insistent in your endeavors. However, the opposite is said by the European tradition whereby nothing special will happen in conjunction with this third Moon Day.
Moon Day 4
The fourth Moon Day bears contradictions when it comes to different lunar traditions. According to the Avesta and Vedic beliefs, nothing promising will happen today but it is ideal to eliminate differences and old fashioned practices. You should also not begin any new endeavors if you stand to receive anything out of this. The opposite is advocated by the European tradition that states that today is ideal to begin new things, especially in the event of locating a missing object. Anyone dealing with business that has something to do with water will experience fortune.
Moon Day 5
According to Vedic tradition, the fifth Moon Day is accepted as a generally lucky day when involving actions which will bear advantages. It is also good for people who want to start a new venture. On the other hand, the European tradition believes that today is highly unlucky and will bring about losses and potentially fatal diseases.
Moon Day 6
It is a most fortunate day today and is ideal for activities that involves use of the human intellect, spiritual endeavors and locating missing individuals, pets or any object in general. Recovery and being in the pink of health is also very likely today. The Vedic tradition suggests that erecting a new building or property can be very advantageous to everyone.
Moon Day 7
Generally, today is considered a lucky day especially if you wish to begin a trip or be involved in vehicles. Want to have surgical or medical procedures done? Make sure you schedule it for today, as well as for exercises and basically activities that will not take long to complete. Meanwhile, you should also be mindful of your words and not divulge something to others when you did not mean to do so.
Moon Day 8
It is a great day for taking long trips or traveling elsewhere for business related agendas. According to Vedic tradition the eighth Moon Day is ideal for taking part in art or physical related activities as well as dealings connected to property. This day also marks new beginnings but woe may befall those who have been afflicted with diseases.
Moon Day 9
You will experience resistance, aggressive divergence and a higher level of peril. You are not advised to begin anything new today, more so if it is linked to financial or material matters. What you can do, is indulge in gardening as well as any pet or plant related activity.
Moon Day 10
The tenth Moon Day is a special one as it is deemed lucky for most traditions. Those who want to begin a new business venture or perform a huge acquisition of asset will enjoy doing so in this auspicious day, as will those who want to travel. Babies born today will grow up to be individuals with a penchant of extended trips throughout their lives.
Moon Day 11
If you have been feeling jaded lately, the 11th Moon Day will surely give you a much deserved perk. You should schedule moving or changing a major element in your life to this day. Also useful for business owners who have suffered failure in the past. You should also make every effort to use this renewed energy into worthwhile endeavors while avoiding divergences and clashes of disagreements.
Moon Day 12
Be wary of this day for it can be rather inauspicious for most people. You should refrain from performing important tasks but if you have made a vow to another person, by all means keep your promise. Surgical procedures should be rescheduled to another day.
Moon Day 13
According to European tradition, you should avoid undertaking most activities including health related endeavors today for it is not an optimal time to do so. Vedic traditions say otherwise, and you can expect to enjoy a lucky day especially when it comes to new beginnings, renewed relationships with people around you and generally a satisfying leisure time ahead.
Moon Day 14
Major traditions contradict each other when it comes to the 14th Moon Day. The Vedic tradition advises against beginning a new endeavor especially if it is linked to financial and traveling aspects in your life. Meanwhile, Globa states that it is perfectly fine for business dealings whereas the European tradition maintains that today is a generally joyous day.
Moon Day 15
The European and Vedic traditions view today as an unbiased day that favors physical and romantic activities. According to the Vedic books, today can be a great day to begin new endeavors but for Globa, it marks a Satanic day with grave effects.
Moon Day 16
The 16th Moon Day is perfect for doing business or taking trips abroad, and generally any activity linked to land, living things like animals and plants and property. If you are thinking of dealing with animals and selling livestock, it’s best to do so today. Today is also an enjoyable day to hold festivals and celebratory occasions.
Moon Day 17
Couples who are thinking of tying the knot, planning an addition to the family, taking a vacation or generally just doing spring cleaning should schedule these tasks and perform them today. Any activity concerning land or houses will be see good results. This day is considered to be negative by Albert the Great.
Moon Day 18
Positive energy will generally be felt today. Long term endeavors concerning financial gains are favored. Thinking of seeing the doctor, getting a second medical opinion or curing illnesses? There’s never a better day to do so today but beware, serious illnesses may worsen today.
Moon Day 19
Today is a most undesirable and perilous day. It is good for battling it out with your rivals or to destroy as well as dispose of anything unwanted or outdated. Kind intentions may also bring on undesirable consequences unlike to results you wished to happen. Don’t begin an important project created to garner more funds. It is wise to postpone your marriage today and do avoid encounters with those who are intoxicated with alcohol.
Moon Day 20
A great day lies ahead and is right for starting new things. Tying the knot today will garner positive aura. On the other hand, the 20th Moon Day may be very trying for people who suffer from diseases. Babies whose birthdays fall on the 20th Moon Day may not possess a good temper.
Moon Day 21
Today is a great day for you to go out and make things happen for luck is on your side. You are recommended to go on journeys, get to know new friends, spend your leisure time entertaining yourself as well as indulge in outdoor sports. Furthermore, businessmen should be able to enjoy satisfactory results in gambling and business dealings. Lost something on the 21st Moon Day? It will definitely be located again soon.
Moon Day 22
According to European tradition, babies born on the 22nd Moon Day will have the chance to grow up and be good individuals. Vedic scriptures denote that today is indeed lucky for journeys and traveling. On the other hand, Globa suggests you dedicate this day towards studying various scientific topics.
Moon Day 23
Major traditions hold the 23rd Moon Day highly in regard for it is a rather positive day to enjoy. European tradition foretells that you will experience fortune and recognition in your daily endeavors but new beginnings are ideally not recommended. The Vedic tradition states that victory will be experienced throughout the day, and favors new beginnings. Meanwhile Globa suggests spending the day in atonement.
Moon Day 24
For the Europeans, today is much like a neutral day but the Veda and Avesta traditions states that your carnal and physical forces will be upped. Quarrels, threats and competition from rivals will come from all direction. You should refrain from beginning new endeavors especially if it concerns monetary gains.
Moon Day 25
Major traditions have different things to foretell today. Albert the Great think today will be an inauspicious day whereas Vronsky and Veda foretell that you will experience luck if you go on journeys or perform business trades. Veda also suggests you begin crucial endeavors today but Globa thinks you should not exert yourself and instead be passive and meditative.
Moon Day 26
Luck is not on your side today. You must not begin new endeavors and instead you should act moderately while throwing out items that are dangerous or unnecessary. You should prevent from overspending and overexerting yourself. There is a silver lining however and the 26th Moon Day will let you see the true characters of people around you and unmask those who want to hurt you. Health is not optimal today.
Moon Day 27
It’s a most fortunate day today! However, the Veda believes you should refrain from traveling whereas Globa says otherwise. You should however avoid from consuming alcohol.
Moon Day 28
The 28th Moon Day is a most joyous day. You should take the initiative to begin new endeavors, making friends with important individuals and other acquaintances. Take a holiday today, amuse yourself amongst loved ones, and watch as your vitality increases.
Moon Day 29
Major traditions unanimously state that the 29th Moon Day is an unlucky one. You are not to go on trips or begin new endeavors in the hope of getting financial gains. You can however do those mentioned above if you must, and throw away unnecessary belongings.
Moon Day 30
Unlike the day before, the 30th Moon Day is a fortunate one which rarely occurs each month. It marks great new beginnings. Those afflicted with illnesses will recover quickly and endeavours that began previously will now end most excellently. You are recommended to be as giving as you can as well as give credit where credit is due.
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