Observatories and Temples
- Observatories were called the Coriccncha or "golden enclosure" and it was completely covered in gold
- A gold disk faced the rising Sun.
- Some Inca temples were built in particular places to link them to the movements of the Sun and and the Moon.
- Temple of the Sun is in Machu Picchu.
Stars
Sources
- When the Pleiades star cluster rose, it signaled the start of the Incan year.
- Pleiades were called the seven kids after the seven brightest stars in the cluster.
- They were able to see 13 stars due to the clear atmosphere.
- According to the Inca, many of the stars were there to protect animals.
- http://www.starteachastronomy.com/incan.html
- http://www.sjusd.org/leland/teachers/sgillis/geog/la/inca_astronomy_calendar.pdf
- https://www.peruforless.com/blog/ancient-astronomy-looking-sky-eyes-inca/
- http://www.amateurastronomyonline.com/ancient-inca-astronomy.html
About them
The Sun & Moon
- Civilization that only lasted a century
- They were the only culture in the world to define constellations of both light and darkness.
- Sun and Moon were Gods to them.
- Most important events involved certain rising and settings of the Sun,Moon and Stars.
- The people ritually made sacrifices to the Sun asking him to rise in the proper place for planting.
- They built observatories where they captured the first and last rays of the Sun through a series of especially placed windows.
Their City
- City of Cuzco was laid out in a radial plan which mimicked the sky and pointed to specific astronomical events.
- Astronomy was used extensively for agricultural purposes. They built carefully oriented pillars on hills overlooking Cuzco.
- When the sun rose or set between the pillars, it was time to plant at a specific altitude.
Inca Astronomy
By: Daniela Martinez