Persian astronomy
Persian astronomy
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Persian astronomy

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Persian astronomy

Persian astronomy or Iranian astronomy refers to the astronomy in ancient Persian history.

Ancient Persians celebrated the vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox, and winter solstice through a variety of different festivals and traditions.

Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinox and the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator has been calculated for years. Nowruz was an important day during the Achaemenid period and continued in importance through the Sasanian dynasty.

Tirgan is an ancient Iranian festival celebrating the summer solstice.

Mehregan is an ancient Zoroastrian and Persian festival celebrating the autumnal equinox since at least the 4th century BC.

Yaldā Night is an ancient Iranian festival celebrating the winter solstice of the Northern Hemisphere.

Some old Persian names in astronomy have barely survived; the names of the four Royal stars that were used by the Persians for almanacs are Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares and Fomalhaut, and are thought by scientists to equate to the modern-day star systems of Alcyone, Regulus, Albireo, and Bungula (Alpha Centauri) for almanacs.

Tablet inscriptions set forth observations of Jupiter from the 43rd year of the reign of Artaxerxes II to the thirteenth year of Alexander the Great. The positions of the planets throughout the year were determined using astrological charts.

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