Mike Farris:
Jay, you’ve described classical astronomy as important, but a neglected part of our American heritage. Can you give a few examples of the role that classical astronomy played in the education of the Founding Fathers?

Jay Ryan:
Well Mike, classical astronomy was prominent with the Puritan colonists of Massachusetts. It was a big part of the classical curriculum at Harvard during the 17th century, along with Hebrew and Greek, and logic and rhetoric. This was back when that school was a pastor’s college. Creating an astronomical almanack was a requirement for a master’ degree, and the 20-year-old Cotton Mather wrote the 1683 edition.

The Harvard almanac was the first English publication in America, and it was printed in 1639, before the Bay Psalm Book. Everyone in the American colonies used classical astronomy to find the times of planting and harvest. It is said that an astronomical almanac was in every colonial home, along with the Bible and Pilgrim’s Progress.

Many of our Founding Fathers were almanack makers, including Benjamin Franklin. The astronomical almanacks also included other useful information, along with essays and poetry that form the foundation of American literature. Unfortunately, the understanding of classical astronomy declined in the 19th century, so that today an almanac simply means a compendium of miscellaneous information.

Mike:
Jay, that’s fascinating information. I look forward to talk to you more tomorrow astronomy. I’m Mike Farris.