Editing History of astronomy (section)

===China===
{{Main|Chinese astronomy}}
{{See also|Book of Silk|Chinese astrology|Timeline of Chinese astronomy}}
[[Image:Su Song Star Map 2.JPG|thumb|[[History of typography in East Asia|Printed]] star map of [[Su Song]] (1020–1101) showing the south polar projection]]

The astronomy of [[East Asia]] began in [[China]]. [[Solar term]] was completed in [[Warring States period]]. The knowledge of Chinese astronomy was introduced into East Asia.

Astronomy in China has a long history. Detailed records of astronomical observations were kept from about the 6th century BC, until the introduction of Western astronomy and the telescope in the 17th century. Chinese astronomers were able to precisely predict eclipses.

Much of early Chinese astronomy was for the purpose of timekeeping. The Chinese used a lunisolar calendar, but because the cycles of the Sun and the Moon are different, astronomers often prepared new calendars and made observations for that purpose.

Astrological divination was also an important part of astronomy. Astronomers took careful note of [[Guest star (astronomy)|"guest stars"]] ({{Lang-zh|c=客星|p=kèxīng|l=guest star}}) which suddenly appeared among the [[fixed star]]s. They were the first to record a supernova, in the Astrological Annals of the Houhanshu in 185&nbsp;AD. Also, the supernova that created the [[Crab Nebula]] in 1054 is an example of a "guest star" observed by Chinese astronomers, although it was not recorded by their European contemporaries. Ancient astronomical records of phenomena like supernovae and comets are sometimes used in modern astronomical studies.

The world's first [[star catalogue]] was made by [[Gan De]], a [[:Category:Chinese astronomers|Chinese astronomer]], in the 4th century BC.