Astronomy in the World of Avatar
General information
Type Astronomical knowledge, objects, and places
Examples Day of Black Sun[1] Planetary calendar room[1] Sozin's Comet[2] Star chart[1]

People in the World of Avatar have limited knowledge about astronomy and the universe around them. This extends to knowledge of eclipses and solstices, which are featured extensively in history and events. This knowledge is vital, as astronomical occurrences can directly affect bending power.

Spirits and people on Earth maintain repositories of this information in various locations, though much of it has been lost with the burying of Wan Shi Tong's Library.^[1]

Contents 1 Astronomical knowledge 1.1 Comets 1.1.1 Sozin's Comet 1.2 Eclipses 1.2.1 Lunar eclipse 1.2.2 Solar eclipse 1.3 Meteorites 1.4 Outer space 1.5 Solstices 1.5.1 Summer solstice 1.5.2 Winter solstice 2 Astronomical objects 2.1 Eclipse glasses 2.2 Lunar calendar 2.3 Star chart 2.4 Sunstone 2.5 Telescope 3 Astronomical places 3.1 Celestial calendar 3.2 Crescent Island 3.3 Planetary calendar room 4 References 5 See also 6 Comments

Astronomical knowledge Edit

Comets Edit

A comet is a small celestial body that orbits the Sun. When close enough to the Sun at the edge of Earth's atmosphere, comets exhibit a visible coma or a tail. The coming of a comet can be also predicted as it is periodic.

Sozin's Comet Edit

Main article: Sozin's Comet

Sozin's Comet passes close to the Earth every one hundred years. Firebenders are able to draw power from it as they normally do the Sun, greatly enhancing their abilities. Fire Lord Ozai claimed it enhanced firebending by to the equivalent of one hundred Suns. Sozin used the power of the comet to eliminate the airbenders in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the Avatar. He passed all the rest of his life trying to find him in vain. Sozin was the first person to draw power from the comet to commit genocide and thus, it was dubbed in his name.^[2]

Eclipses Edit

An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when one celestial object moves into the shadow of another. People know the cause of these phenomena and can predict them through a planetary calendar room.^[1]

Lunar eclipse Edit

Waterbending draws its power from the moon. Though the Moon Spirit's mortal form is known to influence the bending art, the effects of astronomical events are not clearly defined. During a lunar eclipse, the moon is merely hidden from view in the shadow of the Earth, with no interfering body in between, unlike a solar eclipse, where the sun is actually obscured by the satellite.^[3]

Solar eclipse Edit

Main article: Day of Black Sun

Solar eclipses, known as the Day of Black Sun, refers to a day when the sun is entirely blocked out by the moon, rendering firebenders powerless.^[1] A solar eclipse affects firebending by blocking the sun's heat and light, both of which firebenders use to control their bending.

The Invasion of the Fire Nation took place on the Day of Black Sun. The invaders forced their way up the main route to the Capital City, and with the eclipse fast approaching, the firebenders were in full retreat. The invaders then put on their eclipse glasses for observing the eclipse safely, without unnecessarily damaging their eyes. Meanwhile, the Avatar and his friends encountered War Minister Qin in the caverns and, with him totally defenseless, he told them of the Fire Lord's whereabouts.^[4]

Meteorites Edit

Main article: Meteor

A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives an impact with the Earth's surface.

When crafting his sword after concluding his swordsmanship training under Piandao's tutelage, Sokka chose to fashion it from meteorite.^[5]

Outer space Edit

Main article: Outer space

Outer space is the term for the massive amount of empty space on the plane of existence surrounding the entire world. It comprises the entire universe. Avatars can travel to outer space when controlling the Avatar State.^[6]

Solstices Edit

A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented toward or away from the sun, causing the star to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme in the sky during the day. Solstices, as other astronomical phenomena, can be predicted. During the solstice, the Spirit World and the natural world are at their closest, while during the equinox they are at their farthest.^[7]

Summer solstice Edit

Main article: Summer solstice

The summer solstice is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun is at the closest angular distance to the equator. It is also the longest day of the year. The winter solstice and the summer solstice are the only times when the Spirit World and the natural world come close together enough to interact freely with each other for extended periods of time. This event was experienced when Aang meditated in order to communicate with Avatar Roku about the latter's past events experienced when alive, such as his friendship, friendly rivalry and ensuing conflict with his friend and the eventual Fire Lord Sozin.^[8]

When Zuko and Aang journeyed to the ancient Sun Warrior civilization, they came across a chamber whose entrance was controlled by a celestial calendar. Zuko determined that the door would only open during a solstice.^[9]

Winter solstice Edit

Main article: Winter solstice

The winter solstice is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun is at its greatest angular distance from the equator. It is also the shortest day of the year. As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer together until the line between the two is blurred. During the solstices, spirits can exert incredible power in the natural world.^[7] This is also the ideal time for people with the ability to enter the Spirit World. Spirits can appear in the real world for a short time on the solstice, like Avatar Roku.^[2]

Astronomical objects Edit

There is a significant number of important objects related to astronomy.

Eclipse glasses Edit

Main article: Eclipse glasses

Eclipse glasses are a gadget invented by the mechanist. When the invasion force marched to the Fire Nation Capital on the Day of Black Sun, they could observe the eclipse safely as a means of keeping track of their time. They used these glasses to protect their eyes, as staring directly into an eclipse can damage the retina.^[4]

Lunar calendar Edit

A lunar calendar is one that is based on cycles of the moon phase.

Star chart Edit

Main article: Star chart

The star chart is a map of the stars and constellations. The constellations shown on the star chart closely resemble the Northern constellations of Earth, with the equivalent of Earth's North Star, Polaris, centered on the chart, allowing those who use it to find the true direction of north when in the Northern Hemisphere.^[10]

Sunstone Edit

Main article: Sunstone

A Sun Warrior treasure, the sunstone is kept hidden inside a room in the Sun Warriors' ancient city which is supposed to be unlockable only during a solstice.^[9]

Telescope Edit

Main article: Zuko's telescope

The telescope was an instrument used by Zuko on his ship to spot objects or people from afar.^[11]

Astronomical places Edit

Celestial calendar Edit

Located in center of the courtyard at the Sun Warrior city, the celestial calendar is a large orange gem that refracts slivers of light onto a calendar on the ground. This gem is part of a celestial locking system that protects a sacred room. The room can only be opened on specific days, like the summer solstice.^[9] The Fire Sages also had such a calendar in the sanctuary of their temple on Crescent Island. As such, Aang was able to go to the temple on the winter solstice to speak to Avatar Roku.^[2]

Crescent Island Edit

Main article: Crescent Island

Crescent Island is a volcanic island on the outskirts of the Fire Nation archipelago. The Fire Temple, the only structure on the island, was built there so that it aligned with the solstices and equinoxes as a calendar itself, and housed the Fire Sages.^[2]

Planetary calendar room Edit

Main article: Planetary calendar room

The planetary calendar room is located in Wan Shi Tong's Library, in the Si Wong Desert. Aang and Sokka used the room to research information about the eclipse to plan the Invasion of the Fire Nation.^[1]

References Edit

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "The Library". John O'Bryan (writer) & Giancarlo Volpe (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. July 14, 2006. No. 10, Book Two: Earth ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku". Michael Dante DiMartino (writer) & Giancarlo Volpe (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. April 15, 2005. No. 8, Book One: Water ↑ "The Siege of the North, Part 2". Aaron Ehasz (writer) & Dave Filoni (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. December 2, 2005. No. 20, Book One: Water ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse". Aaron Ehasz (writer) & Joaquim Dos Santos (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. November 30, 2007. No. 11, Book Three: Fire ↑ "Sokka's Master". Tim Hedrick (writer) & Giancarlo Volpe (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. October 12, 2007. No. 4, Book Three: Fire ↑ "The Guru". Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko (writers) & Giancarlo Volpe (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. December 1, 2006. No. 19, Book Two: Earth ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Winter Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World". Aaron Ehasz (writer) & Lauren MacMullan (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. April 8, 2005. No. 7, Book One: Water ↑ "The Avatar and the Fire Lord". Elizabeth Welch Ehasz (writer) & Ethan Spaulding (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. October 26, 2007. No. 6, Book Three: Fire ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "The Firebending Masters". John O'Bryan (writer) & Giancarlo Volpe (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. July 15, 2008. No. 13, Book Three: Fire ↑ "The Desert". Tim Hedrick (writer) & Lauren MacMullan (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. July 14, 2006. No. 11, Book Two: Earth ↑ "The Boy in the Iceberg". Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko (writers) & Dave Filoni (director). Avatar: The Last Airbender. Nickelodeon. February 21, 2005. No. 1, Book One: Water

See also Edit

• Technology in the World of Avatar
• Science in the World of Avatar
• Outer space

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