Astronomical software accurately dates 2,500-year-old lyric poem

[bananas]

Source: Astronomy Now

A computer simulation of the sky over the island of Lesbos, Greece, soon after astronomical dusk during the third week of January 570 BC. The 6-day-old waxing crescent Moon lies in the constellation of Taurus forming a triangle with first-magnitude star Aldebaran and the Seven Sisters, or Pleiades open star cluster. Physicists and astronomers from the University of Texas at Arlington believe that this sky scene, or one of a few nights later, to have inspired Sappho’s “Midnight Poem.” AN graphic by Ade Ashford.

Physicists and astronomers from the University of Texas at Arlington have used advanced astronomical software to accurately date lyric poet Sappho’s “Midnight Poem,” which describes the night sky over Greece more than 2,500 years ago.
The scientists described their research in the article “Seasonal Dating of Sappho’s ‘Midnight Poem’ Revisited,” just published in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. Martin George, former president of the International Planetarium Society, now at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, also participated in the work.

“This is an example of where the scientific community can make a contribution to knowledge described in important ancient texts, ” said Manfred Cuntz, physics professor and lead author of the study. “Estimations had been made for the timing of this poem in the past, but we were able to scientifically confirm the season that corresponds to her specific descriptions of the night sky in the year 570 B.C.”

Sappho’s “Midnight Poem” describes the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation of Taurus having set at around midnight, when supposedly observed by her from the Greek island of Lesbos:



Cuntz and co-author and astronomer Levent Gurdemir, director of the planetarium at UTA, used astronomical software called Starry Night version 7.3, to identify the earliest date that the Pleiades would have set at midnight or earlier in local time in 570 B.C. The planetarium system Digistar 5 also allows creating the night sky of ancient Greece for Sappho’s place and time.

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Read more: https://astronomynow.com/2016/05/15/astronomical-software-accurately-dates-2500-year-old-lyric-poem/

[cstanleytech]

1. Yes it was an interesting story when I read about it 2 days ago

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160513150346.htm

[HubertHeaver]

2. It is an interesting story. I didn't read it 2 days ago. I am happy it is here now.

[cstanleytech]

3. You might want to consider checking out the science forum then, lot of interesting stories

like this one are posted there often.

[HubertHeaver]

4. Thanks, I shall.

But it is a rather arcane forum which not everyone visits. Maybe you could help us out and let us know when something interesting comes up by cross-posting.

[cstanleytech]

5. Possible but 99.9% of whats posted there wouldnt meet the LBN rules

over it having to be news of national interest not to mention the time limit rule of having to be less than 24 hours old.

[HubertHeaver]

6. I see the problem.

The good stuff resides in the Science Forum. I'll have to subscribe to it.

[Judi Lynn]

10. DU'ers who have time limitations have to choose the areas they expect will bring the most info.

I'm certain, since it happened to me for years, there are people who have so little time to spend at any time they have to choose one area and stick with it in order to see as much as possible.

I was here for years before I had the time to look beyond LBN on any given day.

Great screen name. Really can crack one up.

[Cheviteau]

8. Just A lot

more interesting than your comment about the post.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

7. Me too.

[BootinUp]

9. Very cool. For a second I imagined I was there. nt

[Judi Lynn]

11. Thank you, bananas. I see it's dated today, seems like the time to post it! Gracias. n/t