Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Archaeology News ^ | May 17, 2025 | Dario Radley

[SunkenCiv]

The study, currently under review by Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, applied the Generalized Hough Transform, a sophisticated computer vision method, to digital images of the manuscript. The method, widely used in image processing, allowed researchers to compare the positions of stars that were listed in the catalog with modern-day astronomical coordinates, accounting for distortions due to Earth's axial precession and positional inaccuracies in ancient recordings.

Dating back as far as Shi Shen, the prominent Chinese astronomer of the Warring States period, the Star Manual of Master Shi (石氏星经) has long perplexed historians due to star position discrepancies that would appear to span centuries. This study, however, describes these inconsistencies not as errors of observation but as a series of periodic updates.

[SunkenCiv]

The Dunhuang map -- distinct from the chart studied in the new research -- is an early Chinese star map from the Tang Dynasty (CE 618–907).

Public domain

[SunkenCiv]

[Deaf Smith]

Yep, looks like a Star Chart instead of a battle plan to attack a village and kill all inhabitants,”.

[ConservativeMind]

“…the Star Manual of Master Shi (石氏星经) has long perplexed historians due to star position discrepancies that would appear to span centuries. This study, however, describes these inconsistencies not as errors of observation but as a series of periodic updates.”

A sort of stream of consciousness across centuries?

[Red Badger]

Maybe the ancient Chinese astronomers were taking into consideration parallax in their observations due to the Earth’s orbit.......................

[Red Badger]

Ancient Chinese Star......................

[PIF]

the Star Manual of Master Shi (石氏星经 means Shi’s Star Book)

[buckalfa]

"A sort of stream of consciousness across centuries?"

Well the Asian mindset does appear to incorporate the past into the present. While there is no suggestion of a hive mind mentality, playing the long game seems to be part of the culture.