The Unlikely Buddha

  Scientists have unearthed a fragment of astronomical history, uncovering a portion of the oldest known star map in an ancient parchment. This map, attributed to the legendary Greek astronomer Hipparchus and estimated to be over 2,000 years old, offers not only a glimpse into early sky-gazing but also poses a curious mystery – a star marked on the map no longer shines in our night sky. The parchment, known as the Codex Climaci Rescriptus, was originally inscribed with Christian texts. However, hidden beneath those writings lay faded remnants of Hipparchus' celestial calculations. Using multispectral imaging, researchers painstakingly peeled back the layers of time, revealing star coordinates in the Greek master's distinctive style. This fragment, identified as part of Hipparchus' Star Catalog, details the positions of stars within the Corona Borealis constellation. But among the familiar celestial markers lies an anomaly – a single star whose current location remains emp...