African Indigenous astronomy is internally diverse

Under particular atmospheric conditions, large sunspots and unusual solar effects could be recorded without telescopes.

Historical reports extend the baseline for studying solar activity and its influence on Earth.

Including Asian and Mesopotamian observations shows that systematic solar knowledge did not begin with the European telescope.

The chapter compares how the Sun, Moon, Venus, Pleiades and other celestial figures are gendered across diverse African societies.

The publication discusses relationships among Moon phases, menstruation, fertility, agriculture and social expectations.

Focusing on women changes which practices and interpreters become visible in the historical record.

The infrared observatory lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana.

NASA, ESA and CSA collaborated on the telescope and its scientific instruments.

The launch sent Webb toward its distant observing location near the Sun–Earth L2 point.

After launch, the observatory still had to unfold, align and calibrate before routine science.