Astrophysics & Particle Physics-APPC 2026

History of Astronomy follows the evolution of human knowledge of the universe, from ancient observations of the sky to contemporary astrophysics. Ancient societies, such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Mayans, observed the sky with great care in order to monitor time, seasons, and celestial phenomena, establishing the basis for astronomy as a science.The Copernican revolution provided a turning point with the replacement of geocentric systems by a heliocentric solar system. Pre-eminent figures like Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Tycho Brahe pushed the science of planetary motion, celestial mechanics, and observing techniques.

Galileo's telescope design improvements allowed for direct observation of moons, planetary surfaces, and sunspots, making astronomy an empirical science.Astronomy grew over the centuries to encompass stars, galaxies, and cosmic phenomena, aided by instrumentation development, spectroscopy, and photography. Observatories everywhere helped in the systematic listing of stars and planetary motion, while theoretical advances in gravity, relativity, and quantum mechanics revolutionized the understanding of cosmic architecture.The 20th and 21st centuries are the ages of space-borne observatories, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and other orbital flights, which enabled astronomers to observe distant galaxies, supernovae, and exoplanets. Contemporary astronomy combines several fields, such as astrophysics, cosmology, and astrochemistry, with the contributions of centuries of observations, computations, and theoretical breakthroughs.A consideration of the history of astronomy provides context for existing research, demonstrating how scientific methodology, technological advancements, and human inquiry have developed the concept of the universe. It emphasizes the interaction among observation, theory, and experiment in understanding the secrets of the universe. From ancient star maps to advanced space telescopes, the history of astronomy captures humanity's persistent drive to investigate the skies, learn about celestial phenomena, and place Earth in the grand universe.