NATS1745 EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is Archaeoatronomy? - ....ANSWER ...-The study of archeological sites
and artifacts and their astronomical significance to the patterns of the night sky
What did ancient peoples believe? - ....ANSWER ...-During prehistoric times
ancient peoples did not understand that the Earth was a sphere, which took a long
time to finally figure out. Today, we know the reasons for motions in the sky.
However, ancient peoples did not know the reasons, but in many instances they
were remarkably adept at noticing and measuring the changes in the sky and
became good at predicting future motions.
Ancient peoples observed movement in the sky, noticing the movement of the
Sun, Moon, stars and planets.
They would have noticed:
the Sun's day/night schedule
The day/night cycle of the stars
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,How the Moon moves through the sky in one month
The movement of the planets against the stars
Summer Solstice
Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes
These main patterns in the sky were noticed by the ancient peoples.
What is the Summer Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the summer solstice occurs
when sun rises as far northeast as it ever does, reaches its highest point in the sky
and sets as far to the northwest - longest daylight period of the year.
What is the Equinox? - ....ANSWER ...-the Equinox occurs when the sun
crosses the Earth's equator and appears directly above it, rising "due east" and sets
"due west."
What is the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the Winter Solstice occurs
when the sun rises as far southeast as it ever does, reaches its lowest point in the
sky and sets as far to the southwest - shortest daylight period of the year.
What are the Changing Phases of the Moon? - ....ANSWER ...-Nightly goes
from east to west
These were an obvious pattern in the sky the ancient peoples would have noticed
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,How do the stars move in the sky? - ....ANSWER ...-vthe stars are visible in
night sky, arranged into patterns called constellations (like Orion)
Cannot see them during the day sky because the Sun is too bright and blocks the
light from the stars
How do the planets move in the sky? - ....ANSWER ...-Planets also rise in
the east and set in the west, but have a more complex motion when viewed relative
to the distant 'fixed stars.' The positions of the planets change with time, relative to
the fixed stars. The "backwards" motion of the planets is called the Retrograde
Motion - backwards loop
Looking at archaeological evidence that shows ancient people figured out these
cycles, and were able to predict patterns in the sky.
Alignment Site 1: Newgrange (3200 BCE) - ....ANSWER ...-Ireland
Older than Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza
Diameter of 85 meters
Height of 13 meters
Surrounded by 97 'Kerbstones' around the perimeter
3 chambers
'Basin stones' may have held human remains
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, The Entrance Stone is 3 meters in width
During the Winter Solstice, the sun goes through the roofbox and will reach
exactly the end of the alcove, lighting up the central chamber for 17 minutes
'Triskele' = ancient Celtic symbol common throughout Celtic history. Group of 3
spirals
Symbol is located in the chambers
Could possibly represent life, death and rebirth
Kerbstone 52 appears to show Orion's belt and the star Sirius
The building materials came from as far as 50 kilometers away
Newgrange probably took anywhere from 5 to 35 years to construct
Newgrange shows us that ancient peoples recognized patterns in the sky
Why align Newgrange with the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-The
Winter Solstice can represent rebirth and the Sun's guarding power
By creating a tomb that aligns with the Winter Solstice, this ancient culture may
have been wishing for the rebirth or reincarnation for their dead
Alignment Site 2: Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon (built between 850 and 1150 CE)
- ....ANSWER ...-Home to the ancestral Puebloans
Built in the city of Pueblo Bonito
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AND ANSWERS
What is Archaeoatronomy? - ....ANSWER ...-The study of archeological sites
and artifacts and their astronomical significance to the patterns of the night sky
What did ancient peoples believe? - ....ANSWER ...-During prehistoric times
ancient peoples did not understand that the Earth was a sphere, which took a long
time to finally figure out. Today, we know the reasons for motions in the sky.
However, ancient peoples did not know the reasons, but in many instances they
were remarkably adept at noticing and measuring the changes in the sky and
became good at predicting future motions.
Ancient peoples observed movement in the sky, noticing the movement of the
Sun, Moon, stars and planets.
They would have noticed:
the Sun's day/night schedule
The day/night cycle of the stars
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,How the Moon moves through the sky in one month
The movement of the planets against the stars
Summer Solstice
Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes
These main patterns in the sky were noticed by the ancient peoples.
What is the Summer Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the summer solstice occurs
when sun rises as far northeast as it ever does, reaches its highest point in the sky
and sets as far to the northwest - longest daylight period of the year.
What is the Equinox? - ....ANSWER ...-the Equinox occurs when the sun
crosses the Earth's equator and appears directly above it, rising "due east" and sets
"due west."
What is the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the Winter Solstice occurs
when the sun rises as far southeast as it ever does, reaches its lowest point in the
sky and sets as far to the southwest - shortest daylight period of the year.
What are the Changing Phases of the Moon? - ....ANSWER ...-Nightly goes
from east to west
These were an obvious pattern in the sky the ancient peoples would have noticed
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
,How do the stars move in the sky? - ....ANSWER ...-vthe stars are visible in
night sky, arranged into patterns called constellations (like Orion)
Cannot see them during the day sky because the Sun is too bright and blocks the
light from the stars
How do the planets move in the sky? - ....ANSWER ...-Planets also rise in
the east and set in the west, but have a more complex motion when viewed relative
to the distant 'fixed stars.' The positions of the planets change with time, relative to
the fixed stars. The "backwards" motion of the planets is called the Retrograde
Motion - backwards loop
Looking at archaeological evidence that shows ancient people figured out these
cycles, and were able to predict patterns in the sky.
Alignment Site 1: Newgrange (3200 BCE) - ....ANSWER ...-Ireland
Older than Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza
Diameter of 85 meters
Height of 13 meters
Surrounded by 97 'Kerbstones' around the perimeter
3 chambers
'Basin stones' may have held human remains
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
, The Entrance Stone is 3 meters in width
During the Winter Solstice, the sun goes through the roofbox and will reach
exactly the end of the alcove, lighting up the central chamber for 17 minutes
'Triskele' = ancient Celtic symbol common throughout Celtic history. Group of 3
spirals
Symbol is located in the chambers
Could possibly represent life, death and rebirth
Kerbstone 52 appears to show Orion's belt and the star Sirius
The building materials came from as far as 50 kilometers away
Newgrange probably took anywhere from 5 to 35 years to construct
Newgrange shows us that ancient peoples recognized patterns in the sky
Why align Newgrange with the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-The
Winter Solstice can represent rebirth and the Sun's guarding power
By creating a tomb that aligns with the Winter Solstice, this ancient culture may
have been wishing for the rebirth or reincarnation for their dead
Alignment Site 2: Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon (built between 850 and 1150 CE)
- ....ANSWER ...-Home to the ancestral Puebloans
Built in the city of Pueblo Bonito
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 4
