SAO Project 42 Information
Drombeg Stone Circle, Co. Cork - Credit: D. Briley
Project #42. Prehistoric Astronomy
Choose a pre-historic monument (not Stonehenge!) thought to have had astronomical applications. Discuss what this monument might have been used for? To get a high grade for this project you will need to carefully weight the evidence for and against these theories.Below I list some web sites and reference books to get you started. The books are not to be regarded as "must buy". They are not required reading for each project, because there is no required reading! I list well known books that I hope can be found in libraries.
I am happy to comment on a summary of what you intend to do (in fact please send me a summary as soon as possible so I know you are on track).
Caution! The Internet
Internet search engines are listed below the Projects. A word of warning/caution to users of Internet/Web resources. Just because information is on a Web page, doesn't mean that it is correct. After a while you will be able to identify the more reputable sites (eg. most .edu, .ac sites). Check the credentials of the author of the site. Has the web site been updated lately? Does it agree with other (non-Internet) information?The truth is out there, but so is a lot of rubbish!
Book: A Guide to the Stone Circles of Britain, Ireland and Brittany by Aubrey Burl (Yale University Press)
Book: Astronomy in Prehistoric Britain and Ireland - Clive Ruggles (Yale)
Astronomy Resources
Resource Lists * Astronomical Resources on the World Wide Web: A Guide to Surfing
Internet Search Engines
Google * HotBot * MetaCrawler
General References
CNN Space * Astronomy * Sky and Telescope * Scientific American * Mercury * New Scientist * New Scientist Astronomy Links
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Last updated: 14-Sept.-2004