Skies of blue

In the early 1800s, in the city of Suzhou in eastern China, two striking large-format maps were printed in vivid Prussian blue. One map depicted the terrestrial world of the Qing empire, the other, shown below, depicted the heavens. Look closely and you can see the curve of the Milky Way.

via @knowablemag.bsky.social

https://www.leventhalmap.org/digital-exhibitions/heaven-and-earth/catalogue/4/?utm_source=Knowable+Magazine&utm_campaign=d8f9d358c7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_20_07_13&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_150f6a5cbe-6b2b776029-546465172

Books about Ancient Astronomy at PG: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/subject/15624

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