Astronomy in Popular Culture

Astronomy has long been a part of human culture. Popular interest in the heavens probably dates from as far back as when the first reliably accurate star charts were being drawn up by the ancient Babylonian astronomers during the second millennium BCE. Even further back than this, the cave dwellers of prehistoric times were drawing graphic representations of stars on their cave walls. The deities that guided the lives of civilizations of this period were held dear, their gods and goddesses often depicted as star patterns in the sky. We no longer harbour such beliefs, yet a strong cultural interest in the stars has persisted to modern times with the frequent use of astronomy-related themes in art, film and television, timekeeping and the calendar, postage stamps, cars, music, and even chocolate bars prevailing to this day! In addition, the visual splendour of the Full Moon, aurorae, eclipses and meteor showers, or even a passing comet, often get air time on radio and television. This book offers the reader a guide to many of these different cultural impacts, and even takes a look at how our planet and its inhabitants might be viewed in the light of how an alien culture may see us! There are also chapters devoted to the true pronunciations of what are perhaps the two most famous astronomy-related words – Halley and, dare we say it . . . Uranus! Astronomy in Popular Culture is indeed your ultimate guide to the influence of astronomy in our everyday lives!