Astronomy and The Hobbit

In celebration of the release of the first film of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy, join us on an adventure exploring the important astronomical references in Tolkien's beloved fantasy tale. A vital clue can be seen in Tolkien's original drawing for the dust jacket seen above. Click on the appropriate arkenstone icon below to begin your journey....

  Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?

  I've never read The Hobbit. Can you give me some background information?

  What causes the phases of the moon?

  How can the moon be used to tell time?

  How did Tolkien's dwarves determine their holidays?

  How can I observe Durin's Day for myself?

  Other activities


Enclosed images belong to their respective owners and no copyright infringement intended. The text of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings belong to the Tolkien Estate and quotations are enclosed here for educational purposes only. Permission granted to use all original enclosed materials here for educational purposes. Original material written by Kristine Larsen, Central Connecticut State University (larsen@ccsu.edu)