The sky on paper: The oldest star map discovered may not be Greek, but Chinese.

A recent study has rekindled the debate over the origin of the world's oldest star map. Researchers at the National Astronomical Observatory of China have analyzed Master Shi's Star Manual , considered the oldest surviving stellar catalog in China, using an innovative digital image processing technique. This method, known as the Hough Transform, employs computer vision to identify and correct significant errors between similar images, Live Science reports.

The study’s results suggest that the ancient star map dates back to 355 BC , 250 years earlier than previously thought. It was also found to have been updated around 125 AD. This would make it the oldest known star catalogue of its kind in the world, predating the one compiled by the Greek astronomer Hipparchus by more than 200 years. Furthermore, the new study places the manuscript’s origins around the same time that the historical astronomer and master Shi Shen is believed to have lived.

However, not all experts are convinced. Historians and astronomers have long been puzzled by alleged dating discrepancies in Shi's star catalog, in which some measurements appear to be hundreds of years older than others. Scientists can date the star maps because, from Earth's perspective, the constellations shift position over time due to the precession of the equinoxes.

Master Shi's Star Manual is a crucial document for understanding ancient Chinese astronomy . Its analysis not only provides insight into the astronomical techniques of the time but also offers a glimpse into the evolution of scientific knowledge in ancient Chinese civilization.

It would be the oldest known star catalog of its kind in the world, predating by more than 200 years the one compiled by the Greek astronomer Hipparchus

The discovery also highlights the importance of modern digital analysis techniques in re-evaluating historical documents. The application of the Hough Transform has allowed researchers to gain a more precise understanding of the age and evolution of the star map.

Although the debate continues, this study represents a significant advance in the history of astronomy and our understanding of ancient Chinese scientific knowledge. The possibility that Master Shi's Star Manual is the oldest known star map offers a new perspective on the sophistication of astronomy in ancient China.

As further research is conducted and advanced analytical techniques are applied, more details about this fascinating document and its place in the history of science are likely to be revealed. For now, Master Shi's Star Manual remains an impressive testament to ancient Chinese astronomical ingenuity and observation.

A recent study has rekindled the debate over the origin of the world's oldest star map. Researchers at the National Astronomical Observatory of China have analyzed Master Shi's Star Manual , considered the oldest surviving stellar catalog in China, using an innovative digital image processing technique. This method, known as the Hough Transform, employs computer vision to identify and correct significant errors between similar images, Live Science reports.