Archaeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy, fields of action and application in Honduras - Concepts

Abstract

The possible differences that may exist between the disciplines known as Archaeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy are investigated, with the general purpose of obtaining a profile of the scope of both sciences that can be applicable to Honduras. Upon making a bibliographic revision of documents related to this matter, it was found that various definitions have been given for both disciplines, which were evaluated in order to have a wide perspective on this issue, from a conceptual point of view and related to the honduran situation. As a result, it is proposed that both disciplines are designated by the terms “Cultural Astronomy”, since these are comprehensive of the study of the relation that different cultures (whether they are ancient of contemporary) and the celestial bodies and phenomena, as it is discussed and supported in the following document. Also, a possible strategy to find the proximity of the Astronomical Culture to the physical and Humanistic Sciences is proposed, which could be the starting point for future studies on this matter.

Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Vol.4(2) 2011, 6-13