Like ancient people at other places of the world, the ancient Chinese lived in awe of the Sun. As they felt solar eclipses extremely significant events, they closely observed the occurrence of solar eclipse. Ancient a...Like ancient people at other places of the world, the ancient Chinese lived in awe of the Sun. As they felt solar eclipses extremely significant events, they closely observed the occurrence of solar eclipse. Ancient astronomers further realized very early that solar eclipses were one of the important astronomical phenomena to revise and improve the ancient calendar. Interestingly, ancient emperors regarded solar eclipses as warnings from heaven that might affect the stability of their throne. Consequently, observing and recording solar eclipses became official, which dated far back to ancient China when numerous relevant descriptions were recorded in historical books. These records contribute substantially to China as an ancient civilization, as well as to the research of the long-term variation of the rotation rate of the Earth during >2000 years before the 17th century. This paper briefly reviews the perception, observations and recording of solar eclipses by ancient Chinese astronomers.展开更多
A record of 'double dawn' at State Zheng in the first year of the reign of King Yi in Western Zhou Dynasty in the chronicle 'Bamboo Annals' (Zhushu Jinian) is discussed. We think that it may be a recor...A record of 'double dawn' at State Zheng in the first year of the reign of King Yi in Western Zhou Dynasty in the chronicle 'Bamboo Annals' (Zhushu Jinian) is discussed. We think that it may be a record of an annular solar eclipse happening in 899 BC. The record and the AT, which describes the secular variation of the earth’s rotation, are analyzed and discussed.展开更多
We address the relation between an ancient total eclipse, which occurred on A.D.1542 August 11 and the variation of Earth's rotation. The total eclipse was recorded in some ancient Chinese books, especially in loc...We address the relation between an ancient total eclipse, which occurred on A.D.1542 August 11 and the variation of Earth's rotation. The total eclipse was recorded in some ancient Chinese books, especially in local chronicles. Some of the documents include useful information for determining the location of the totality zone. The parameters of the eclipse are calculated by using the DE406 Ephemeris. A high-precision value of ΔT which expresses the variation of the Earth's rotation, of about 300 ~ 380 s, is obtained.展开更多
文摘Like ancient people at other places of the world, the ancient Chinese lived in awe of the Sun. As they felt solar eclipses extremely significant events, they closely observed the occurrence of solar eclipse. Ancient astronomers further realized very early that solar eclipses were one of the important astronomical phenomena to revise and improve the ancient calendar. Interestingly, ancient emperors regarded solar eclipses as warnings from heaven that might affect the stability of their throne. Consequently, observing and recording solar eclipses became official, which dated far back to ancient China when numerous relevant descriptions were recorded in historical books. These records contribute substantially to China as an ancient civilization, as well as to the research of the long-term variation of the rotation rate of the Earth during >2000 years before the 17th century. This paper briefly reviews the perception, observations and recording of solar eclipses by ancient Chinese astronomers.
文摘A record of 'double dawn' at State Zheng in the first year of the reign of King Yi in Western Zhou Dynasty in the chronicle 'Bamboo Annals' (Zhushu Jinian) is discussed. We think that it may be a record of an annular solar eclipse happening in 899 BC. The record and the AT, which describes the secular variation of the earth’s rotation, are analyzed and discussed.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘We address the relation between an ancient total eclipse, which occurred on A.D.1542 August 11 and the variation of Earth's rotation. The total eclipse was recorded in some ancient Chinese books, especially in local chronicles. Some of the documents include useful information for determining the location of the totality zone. The parameters of the eclipse are calculated by using the DE406 Ephemeris. A high-precision value of ΔT which expresses the variation of the Earth's rotation, of about 300 ~ 380 s, is obtained.
