Talk:Astronomy

General structure of the article

I started working on this article, and made some improvements. However, I would like to get feedback about four different problems:

1. I could not help from noticing that the whole article looks more like a laundry list rather than something organic (and my efforts have only re-organized/expanded/corrected the laundry list): I don't really know how to improve the general structure, but suggestions are obviously welcome.
2. To me, the introductory section looks very weak, with too much enphasis on historical aspects and amateur astronomy. Should it be completely rewritten?
3. I think I have added a lot of information to the "astronomical observations" section, and I wonder whether it could be TOO much. Also, I suspect that my language might be too technical, at certain points. Non-expert opinions on this point are particularly important.
4. The current final part of the "astronomical observations" should obviously be moved somewhere else. But where? should we create another section with a list of astronomical techniques (astrometry, photometry, spectroscopy etc.)? and what about subfields like astrophysics (much more than a subfield, I dare say, as it includes most of modern astronomy), astrobiology, astrochemistry, archeoastronomy (which in my opinion is part of archeology..)?

I look forward to reading your opinions --ripa 18:48, 24 January 2007 (CST)

South American

It seems to me, including the Greek, Egypts and other peoples should also include the Maya and the Inka cultures as they too build many "sun"-based observatories for the longest day. Robert Tito 10:06, 1 February 2007 (CST)

History section

I know the marching orders say be bold, but before I eliminate the History section outright, I thoiught it might be appropriate to solicit feedback.

The basic reason I would like to see the History section removed from the present article is because there will be a separate article on the History of Astronomy. If the history section in the current article is to even remotely do justice to the subject, it must almost become an independent article. Keeping it within limits for this article will almost inevitably turn it into a names, dates, places type of history - really no history at all.

Eliminating the history section will also leave room for expansion of the other sections of the present article without the overall article becoming too long.

James F. Perry 13:10, 14 February 2007 (CST)

I think this is very reasonable. If we have a brief paragraph and then point towards the "History of Astronomy" that should be plenty. Otherwise its going to seriously bog down everything here. -- Sarah Tuttle 13:45, 14 February 2007 (CST)