Have you ever gone outside at night to admire the stars? And wonder what they all are, and what stories they have to tell? Have you ever thought you'd like to know and understand the constellations or know the names of the stars? Here you can learn to find your way across the celestial landscape and begin to understand these patterns of the ages. Learn why the Big Dipper, not a true "constellation," might be seen all night, or why the Southern Cross is invisible from New York. Find out the meanings of the celestial figures, where they came from, and why we still use them today thousands of years after the first ones were invented.This course guides listeners through the sights of the naked- eye sky, wherein we directly witness the effects of the turning and revolving of the Earth, the artistry painted by the human mind using the sky and stars, and how the view changes with time and with our place on the planet.
Lecture 1 Sky and Stars
Lecture 2 Constellations
Lecture 3 Circles of Earth
Lecture 4 Celestial Circles
Lecture 5 Rising and Setting
Lecture 6 That Old Sun
Lecture 7 Star Names
Lecture 8 The Sacred Zodiac
Lecture 9 Wobbles
Lecture 10 Astronomy, Astrology, and UFOs
Lecture 11 Mythical Magic
Lecture 12 Singular Sights
Lecture 13 Modern Design
Lecture 14 The Milky Way