Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of the skies beyond the world. Astronomy is a recent study, pioneered by the Collegiate of Mages and independent scholars or tinkerers. The field of Astronomy has given rise to numerous scholarly works, the most critical being that of the Dedarian Calendar.

Astrological Studies
Numerous objects in the sky are a part of the study of Astronomy. The sun, the moons, the stars, and other celestial objects have each undergone primitive observation and been the subjects of scholarly studies. The practice of studying Astronomy is highly limited, primarily due to the lack of technology required to make accurate measurements or observations without expensive and technical devices. The Collegiate of Mages has been the primary source of astrological studies and research, with some independent organizations contributing and collaborating.

Many of these independent entities are funded by wealthy individuals or those with more direct ties to the collegiate of mages. The study of Astronomy has produced some advancement to culture and technology. Unfortunately, this commonly clashes with religious beliefs and has caused, on more than one occasions, the halt or regression of astrological studies.

Technological Advancements
Astronomy has produced wondrous technologies and discoveries.

The first was the refining of the telescopic lens, which has now become more commonplace among nobles and the wealthy. Spyglasses are now more commonly used in military or well-to-do militias. Prototypes of personal vision enhancements are under research, and it is theorized that those hard of sight may be able to see clearer as the technology progresses.

The most famous invention was the Dedarian Calendar, which used a combination of earthly studies with Astronomy to create the most accurate calendar to the natural world. The invention combined theories and knowledge from multiple scholarly disciplines, and produced interesting timekeeping tools. With the power of a soul gem, a chronograph was created that moved at a fixed interval in order to help standardize timekeeping. Hourglasses filled with sands or liquids are still most common, as chronographs like the one used to create the Dedarian Calendar are still experimental and incredibly expensive.

Celestial Objects
Astronomy has primarily focused on the study of the Celestial objects that can be seen in the skies.

The Sun
The Sun is a large, bright object in the sky that governs the daytime, it's counterpoint being the moons in the darker night sky. The sun is a subject of much worship among religions, and its light is said to bring life to the world. The sun's light has proven to be intense, as some are burned through prolonged exposure (though no lethality has been shown to come of this, unless the subject is deprived of water and other nutrients). The sun has been observed to take different positions and trajectories across the sky throughout a yearly cycle, returning to predicted points at the same time the following year.

The sun is said to be far away, beyond the reach of even dragons. Its size is estimated to be at least hundreds of miles wide, and its orbit is centered around the world.

The Moons
The Moons are the counterpoints to the Sun. Both have similar orbits to the Sun, though are observed to cross in the opposite direction. Their trajectories place them just so that every 1,000 years, the larger of the two eclipses and moves in front of the Sun to block its light for roughly an hour. This phenomena varies in location around the world as well as exact timing during the year. Occasionally, in the warmer seasons, the moons can be seen for a few hours in the daylight.



Muna
Muna is the smaller of the two, and is a pale white color. It is roughly the size of a single silver coin held at half a human's arm length. Muna moves through phases, darkening and filling over roughly a single month's cycle plus one day, according to the Dedarian Calendar.

Mina
Mina is the larger of the two, about three or four times the size of Muna, depending on the time of year. Mina also goes through phases, darkening and lightening over the course of roughly one season, give or take a few days. Mina's distinguishing characteristics include its red or orange tint and a bright ring that encircles the object.

Stars
Stars are small points of light that dot the night skies. Many theories have been made as to what they really are, though there has been no concrete evidence to their true nature. What is known is that they stay incredibly consistent in their positions and composition, aside from a few colored stars that seem to move over long periods of time.

Stars are grouped in to constellations, which many have named according to the images they seem to evoke.