A recent study suggests that the Star Manual of Master Shi, an ancient Chinese star catalog, may be significantly older than previously believed, potentially rewriting the history of astronomy. Researchers at the Chinese National Astronomical Observatories have used advanced digital image processing and machine learning techniques to analyze the catalog.
Their findings indicate that the catalog originated around 355 BCE and was updated around 125 CE. This would place its creation over 200 years before the star catalog of Greek astronomer Hipparchus, long considered the oldest structured celestial record in the Western tradition. The study, which is currently a preprint and has not yet been peer-reviewed, has sparked debate among experts.
While some support the findings, others suggest that discrepancies in the catalog's measurements may be due to calibration errors in the original instruments. Despite the ongoing discussion, the study highlights the importance of re-evaluating historical scientific achievements and acknowledges China's significant contributions to early astronomy.