9 Maya
The ancient Maya were heavily involved with astronomy and astrology. They placed heavy importance on the movement of the heavens in their daily lives and in the actions of their entire culture.To them, the movement of heavenly bodies was a way for the gods to communicate and a solar eclipse would be a largely distressing event.
They would call a solar eclipse chi’ ibal kin (“to eat the Sun”).The Maya were so skilled at predicting the movements of the heavens that their calendars were largely accurate into the 21st century.
They would plot the movements of the Moon and could easily determine dates far in advance.Perhaps their most impressive feat is predicting the 1991 total solar eclipse on July 11. The Maya were amazingly skilled at observing how small patterns would eventually give way to larger ones.
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