Astronomy

Wang Zhenyi was born in China in 1768 during the Qing Dynasty. She grew up in a family that loved learning. Her grandfather had a huge library, and her father was a doctor who also studied science. Wang Zhenyi was very clever and loved to read from a young age. Her grandfather taught her astronomy, her father taught her maths and geography, and her grandmother taught her poetry.

Shen Kuo was born in the year 1031 in Hangzhou, China. His family was not powerful, but they valued learning. His mother encouraged his studies. As a child, Shen moved around a lot because of his father's government work. He grew curious about the land and people around him. He also became interested in medicine after an illness.

Shi Shen lived during the 4^th century BCE in ancient China. He was born in the state of Wei, which was a strong kingdom during the Warring States period. This was a time when people studied the skies, believing the stars could guide rulers and hold predictions about the future. From an early age, he developed a keen interest in the Sun, Moon, and stars. That curiosity led him to study the night sky, asking big questions about how the Universe worked.

Al-Ijliya was born in the 10^th century. She lived in Aleppo, a city in what is now Syria. She lived during a time when science and learning were highly valued across the Islamic World. There she learned a rare and important skill: how to make astrolabes. These were tools used to study the stars and tell time.