This workshop looks at the evolution of our understanding of the Universe
For millennia, humans have looked up at the night sky and pondered about the existense of stars.
We wish to take you on a journey of discovery, through mythology, philosophy, religion, literature and science to show how we have reached our current understanding of what lies beyond our planet.
Let us start with the two most prominent features of our sky, the sun and the moon. How did our ancient ancestors view these objects?
Initially these heavenly bodies were seen as just that, heavenly. By this we mean that they were often identified as Gods and Goddesses.
The importance of the sun in the lives of prehistoric groups can still be seen today in a variety of monuments, including Stonehenge.
As a result eclipses were often seen as battles between the light (good) and the dark (evil).
The thinking that the Sun (normally identified as a god) moved around the Earth, was supported by a number of high ranking philosophers at the time.
A Greek philosher (Anaxagoras) was the first to try and suggest that the sun was not a god, but rather a giant ball of flames, and that the moon was illuminated by the sun's own reflection. We now know this to be true, however back in his time (the 5th century BC), such a claim landed him in prison and sentenced to death. Thankfully, he was released before his execution, after the intervention of the famous Greek General, Pericles.
Another Greek philosopher (Aristarchus of Samos), was the first recorded to correctly claim that the Earth went round the Sun against common beliefs of the time (3rd century BC). A century later, a Mesopotamian philosopher also agreed with this idea.
Unfortunately this was not enough to convince the rest of the astronomers and religious academics of the time, and so people continued to live in the belief that the universe revolved around the Earth for another 1600 years. This was understandable for the time as they did not have the knowledge and technology we now have. They could only go on what they saw for themselves. It does look like the sun and the moon go around our planet from our viewpoint on Earth.
It was not until the 16th century AD that the theory of the Earth orbiting the sun was put forward again. This time by Nicolaus Copernicus, who's work was then supported by other great minds over the next century.
However it took about another century before astronomers also recognised that neither the Earth or our Sun were the centre of the Universe.
We now know that the Earth orbits the Sun, along with seven other planets.
We understand that the light of the moon is just a reflection of sunlight off it's surface.
Man has even been to the moon. Six times!
We have probes that have visited or are orbiting the sun. Sending us even more information about what it is made of and how it produces the heat, light and radiation humans have experienced throughout their existence.
These pin-pricks of bright light in our night sky are the cause of much fascination still today. Perhaps not in the same way as our ancestors, but still they capture our imagination as to what lays beyond.
People have gazed up at the stars throughout time, wondering and pondering upon their existence