Astronomy Then and Now: Using Machine Learning to Validate Ancient Celestial Knowledge

Authors

  • Harsheet Kaur Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, PCTE Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Keywords:

Ancient Astronomy, Machine Learning , Celestial Knowledge, Cultural Heritage, Data Validation

Abstract

Ancient civilizations—from India and Babylon to the Mayans and Greeks—recorded celestial patterns that guided agriculture, navigation, and culture. While rich in empirical observations, much of this knowledge remains untested against modern science. This paper explores how machine learning (ML) can validate and reinterpret ancient astronomical data. Using historical records alongside modern astrophysical datasets, ML models identify patterns, test predictions, and simulate past sky events. Techniques like natural language processing (NLP) also help decode ancient manuscripts. The study highlights how integrating ancient astronomy with ML not only affirms the accuracy of many early observations but also enriches contemporary space research, offering a bridge between cultural heritage and modern science.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/3117.4787.202502

References

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Al-Rajab, M., Loucif, S., & Al Risheh, Y. (2023). Predicting new crescent moon visibility applying machine learning algorithms. Scientific Reports, 13:6674.

Sferdian, M., & Frincu, M. (2019). When Old Meets New: Evaluating Numerical and Machine Learning Based Eclipse Prediction Methods. Romanian Astronomical Journal, 1(1), 1–19.

Published

2026-05-06