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It is well documented that the Antikythera mechanism could predict solar and lunar eclipses. The device's operation was based on 7th century BC Babylonian astro
by utopcell 2mo ago
It is well documented that the Antikythera mechanism could predict solar and lunar eclipses. The device's operation was based on 7th century BC Babylonian astronomy, specifically the Saros cycle, and Greek astronomy. The theory and data was definitely present in Thales' time.
- jacobolus 2mo agoThe Antikythera mechanism is 4 centuries after Thales, during which time there was extensive additional study done by Greek astronomers. Evidence of old solar eclipse predictions seems pretty sparse; I can't figure out when the first successfully predicted solar eclipse was that we are certain about.