Subject: Re: [HM] Indian astronomy and mathematics
From: Milo Gardner (milo.gardner@24stex.com)
Date: Sun Feb 13 2000 - 07:54:50 EST
Subject: Water clocks and sidereal time, 1350 BC
Dear HM listmembers:
Dinesh's points of view related to the heliocentric discussion are
very interesting. I wish that I was more informed on the astronomical
issues to push the mathematical astronomy aspects of this debate
to higher levels. My information only allows the common introduction
of the water clock in India, Babylon and Egypt on or around 1,500 BCE
as a key point in history that allowed observation astronomy to
gain wonderful insights to the broader two + movements of the sky.
Dinesh's three cycle discussion found in: Vedanga Jyotisa connecting:
1. sidereal (Naksatra, within a 95 year cycle, 365 day 6 h 12 m 3 sec)
2. lunar
3. solar
would have been easily observed and computed by the available water
clocks in all three cultures, so a 1350 BC date is easily accepted.
Is there anyone out thatere that would like to add details to Dinesh's
1350 BC, or earlier date, or other contents of the Vedanga Jyotisa?
That is, Dinesh may be correct in suggesting that Indian mathematical
astronomy was first with a definitive sidereal year, offering calendar
links to lunar and solar time (as Mesoamericans may have later linked
their three calendars, 260, 360, 365 1/4, by its 'lost' sidereal
calendar, written within a modular arithmetic structure).
The point that Greeks did not exploit water clocks to the extent that
Vedic, Babylonian and Egyptian 'scribes may be worthy for Kim or
others to discuss.
Regards to all,
Milo Gardner
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