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The Origin of the Constellations

Who invented the constellations? The constellations that we use to group stars into visually associated groups have ancient origins and have been hugely influential throughout human history. This lecture looked at the appearance of the ancient constellations and show how it is possible to deduce from their appearance when and where the first constellation makers lived. This leads to a curious historical puzzle since some famous commentators in the ancient world describe patterns of constellations that they could not have witnessed when and where they lived.

Professor John D. Barrow FRS has been a Professor of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Cambridge since 1999, carrying out research in mathematical physics, with special interest in cosmology, gravitation, particle physics and associated applied mathematics. (from gresham.ac.uk)

The Origin of the Constellations


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