East Asian Archaeoastronomy: Historical Records of Astronomical Observations of China, Japan and Korea

Zhentao Xu, David William Pankenier, Yaoting Jiang

CRC Press, 2000 - Science - 430 pages

Historical astronomical records can play an important role in modern research, especially in the case of ancient Chinese observational data: sunspot and aurora records are important for the study of solar variability; solar and lunar eclipse records for the study of the Earth's rotation; records of Comet Hally for the study of orbital evolution; "guest star" records for the study of supernova remnants; planetary conjunction records for research in astronomical chronology. In the past, Western scientists have not been able to exploit these valuable data fully because the original records were difficult to gather and interpret, and complete English translations have not been available. East-Asian Archaeoastronomy is the first comprehensive translation into English of such historical records for modern research. The book also features an introduction to East Asian astronomy and offers guidance on how to use the records effectively. It will not only be a valuable research tool for astronomers but should also be of great interest to historians of China and Chinese science.

Contents

• Astronomical observations in oraclebone inscriptions: 13
• Lunar eclipses: 61
• Comet Halley: 107
• Guest stars: 125
• Sunspots: 147
• Aurora borealis: 183
• Clusters of multiple planets: 237
• Appendix II: 405
• Geographical coordinates of historical capitals of China Japan: 419
• Index: 425

Bibliographic information

• Title: East Asian Archaeoastronomy: Historical Records of Astronomical Observations of China, Japan and Korea; Volume 5 of ESI series; Volume 5 of Earth Space Institute Book Series, Volume 5, ISSN 1026-2660; Volume 5 of Earth Space Institute book series on public and private sector interest in space, ISSN 1026-2660
• Authors: Zhentao Xu, David William Pankenier, Yaoting Jiang
• Contributor: Earth Space Institute
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: CRC Press, 2000
• ISBN: 905699302X, 9789056993023
• Length: 430 pages
• Subjects: Science / Astronomy