The Sky Disk of Nebra Reveals Its Secrets

Abstract

The paper presents the method and results of decoding the content on the Sky Disk of Nebra. It has been shown that the symbols found on it, suggesting the Sun, the Moon and the solar barge are only geometric figures facilitating the recording of astronomical knowledge. The paper first defines a polar system on the horizon plane. This system describes the range of the directions of sunrise and sunset in the annual period and the Moon in the 18.61-year cycle. It turned out that astronomical knowledge was recorded on the surface of the disk on two planes: horizontal and perpendicular one (the meridian plane). With the help of geometric constructions located on the meridian plane, it was possible to decode the range of changes in the altitude (zenith distance) of the Sun in the annual period, at the time of its upper culmination. Also, using two different geometric structures, the range of changes in altitude (zenith distance) of the Moon at the time of its upper culmination in the 18.61-year cycle was decoded