The map is now believed to date back to the 4th century B.C.E., which is around 250 years earlier than previously thought. If this date is accurate, the document would be considered the world's ...

The Dunhuang map (not the chart studied in the new research) is an early star map from China dating to the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618 to 907).© CPA Media Pte Ltd via Alamy ...

For centuries, despite this document being the oldest surviving catalog of stars in China, the star catalog of ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus (dated to 130 B.C.) was thought to be older.

Known as the “Star Manual of Master Shi,” the document is the oldest surviving star catalog in China. But now, scientists say the map dates to the fourth century B.C.E.—some 250 years ...

Thus, Shi’s Star Catalog is identified as the world’s oldest known star catalog,” they added. Some scientists, however, have a different theory: The instrument used to record Shi’s Star ...

For centuries, despite this document being the oldest surviving catalog of stars in China, the star catalog of ancient Greek astronomer Hipparchus (dated to 130 B.C.) was thought to be older.

The Dunhuang map (not the chart studied in the new research) is an early star map from China dating to the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618 to 907). (Image credit: CPA Media Pte Ltd via Alamy) ...