Ancient people knew about space and planets through observations and observations of the night sky. They studied the movements of celestial bodies, such as the stars, moon, and planets, and used this information to create astronomical models and calendars. They also used myths and religious beliefs to explain the phenomena they observed.
The earliest known civilization to study the night sky were the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 4000 BC. They created a lunar calendar based on the cycles of the Moon and observed the movements of the stars and planets. The ancient Egyptians also studied the night sky, and their astronomical observations were closely tied to their religious beliefs. They created a solar calendar based on the cycles of the Sun and associated certain stars and constellations with their gods and goddesses.
The ancient Babylonians, who followed the Sumerians, made significant advancements in astronomy. They developed a more accurate lunar calendar, recorded astronomical observations, and made predictions about the movements of celestial bodies. They also developed mathematical techniques to predict eclipses, which were considered important events in their religion.
The ancient Chinese, Mayans, and other cultures also made astronomical observations and developed their own calendars. The ancient Chinese, for example, kept detailed records of astronomical events and used them to predict eclipses and the movements of celestial bodies. They also used observations of the night sky to create a lunar calendar and to study the interactions between the Earth and the heavens.
The ancient Greeks and Indians also made important contributions to the study of astronomy. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras and the Indian mathematician Aryabhata, for example, made early observations of the planets and the stars, and proposed models of the universe.
In summary, ancient people knew about space and planets through observations of the night sky, which they used to create astronomical models and calendars. They also used myths and religious beliefs to explain the phenomena they observed. They studied the movements of celestial bodies, such as the stars, moon, and planets, and recorded astronomical observations. The earliest known civilization to study the night sky were the ancient Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 4000 BC.