Editing History of science (section)

====Astronomy and celestial divination====
[[File:-200 Sternenliste aus Uruk star list anagoria.JPG|thumb|Star list with distance information, [[Uruk]] (Iraq), 320-150 BCE, the list gives each constellation, the number of stars and the distance information to the next constellation in ells]]
In [[Babylonian astronomy]], records of the motions of the [[star]]s, [[planet]]s, and the [[moon]] are left on thousands of [[clay tablet]]s created by [[scribe]]s. Even today, astronomical periods identified by Mesopotamian proto-scientists are still widely used in [[Gregorian calendar|Western calendars]] such as the [[solar year]] and the [[lunar month]]. Using this data, they developed mathematical methods to compute the changing length of daylight in the course of the year, predict the appearances and disappearances of the Moon and planets, and eclipses of the Sun and Moon. Only a few astronomers' names are known, such as that of [[Kidinnu]], a [[Chaldea]]n astronomer and mathematician. Kiddinu's value for the solar year is in use for today's calendars. Babylonian astronomy was "the first and highly successful attempt at giving a refined mathematical description of astronomical phenomena." According to the historian A. Aaboe, "all subsequent varieties of scientific astronomy, in the Hellenistic world, in India, in Islam, and in the West—if not indeed all subsequent endeavour in the exact sciences—depend upon Babylonian astronomy in decisive and fundamental ways."<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Scientific Astronomy in Antiquity |author=Aaboe, A. |journal=[[Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society]] |volume=276 |issue=1257|date=2 May 1974 |pages=21–42|doi=10.1098/rsta.1974.0007 |bibcode=1974RSPTA.276...21A |jstor=74272|s2cid=122508567 }}</ref>

To the [[Babylon]]ians and other [[Near East]]ern cultures, messages from the gods or omens were concealed in all natural phenomena that could be deciphered and interpreted by those who are adept.<ref name= "lindberg2007a"/> Hence, it was believed that the gods could speak through all terrestrial objects (e.g., animal entrails, dreams, malformed births, or even the color of a dog urinating on a person) and celestial phenomena.<ref name= "lindberg2007a"/> Moreover, Babylonian astrology was inseparable from Babylonian astronomy.