Cited by 48Historical Astronomy and Related StudiesHistory and Developments in AstronomyIonosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 31 of the 31 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 16 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

The earliest datable observation of the aurora borealis

Stephenson, F Richard, Willis, David M, Hallinan, Thomas J·2004·Astronomy and Geophysics

Abstract

The Late Babylonian astronomical texts, discovered at the site of Babylon (32.5°N, 44.4°E) more than a century ago, contain what is probably the earliest reliable account of the aurora borealis. A clay tablet recording numerous celestial observations made by the official astronomers during the 37th year of King Nebuchadnezzar II (568/567 BC) describes an unusual “red glow” in the sky at night; the exact date of this observation corresponds to the night of 12/13 March in 567 BC. The most likely interpretation of the phenomenon is an auroral display. This event occurred several centuries before the first clearly identifiable observation of the aurora from elsewhere in the world, namely China in 193 BC. The Babylonian auroral observation is remarkable in the sense that it is one of a series of carefully recorded astronomical observations, for each of which the year, month and day are known precisely. This observation occurred at a time when the geomagnetic (dipole) latitude of Babylon was about 41°N compared with the present value of 27.5°N, suggesting a higher auroral incidence at Babylon in 567 BC than at present.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1046/j.1468-4004.2003.45615.x

Cites

31 of 31 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 16 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation
    § Abstract

    According to calendrical tables, the date of the red glow corresponds to between sunset on 12 March and sunrise on 13 March in 567 BC.

    “According to the calendrical tables (Parker and Dubberstein 1956), this date corresponds to some time between sunset on 12 March and sunrise on 13 March in 567 BC (the Babylonian day began at sunset).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Parker and Dubberstein 1956
    • Rests on an assumption: The Babylonian day began at sunset.
  • Findingcitation
    § Abstract

    The last visibility of the crescent in the 11th month would have occurred on the morning of either 11 March or 12 March.

    “Our computations based on the crescent visibility criteria of Neugebauer (1929) indicate that in the 11th month the last visibility of the crescent would have occurred on the morning of either 11 March or 12 March”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Neugebauer 1929

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Interpretationreasoning
    § The Babylonian auroral record

    The most likely interpretation of the phenomenon is an auroral display.

    “The most likely interpretation of the phenomenon is an auroral display.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The most common colour in the high-latitude aurora is green.
    • Rests on an assumption: The relatively rare aurorae that are seen at low latitudes are most commonly red and are known as great red aurorae.
    • Rests on an assumption: The most usual form of auroral display is a long luminous band that arcs from horizon to horizon in a magnetic east-west direction.
    • Rests on an assumption: Under very intense geomagnetic activity, the main auroral display moves even further towards the equator and can sometimes be seen to the south of the observing site.
  • Interpretationreasoning
    § Scientific interpretation of the auroral record

    The observation cannot refer to the zodiacal light because the colour of the light is stated to be red.

    “Moreover, since the colour of the light is stated to be”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Interpretationnone given
    § The Babylonian auroral record

    The Babylonian auroral observation is one of a series of carefully recorded astronomical observations, for each of which the year, month and day are known precisely.

    “The Babylonian auroral observation is remarkable in the sense that it is one of a series of carefully recorded astronomical observations, for each of which the year, month and day are known precisely.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 6
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 11
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data
    § Abstract

    The Moon would have been very close to the Sun and thus invisible on the night when the red glow appeared.

    “Certain events involving the Moon (e.g.eclipses) were timed, but on the night when the red glow appeared in the sky the Moon would have been very close to the Sun and thus invisible (there was no solar eclipse at that time).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given
    § The Babylonian auroral record

    The tablet originally covered a full year of observations, but only data from lunar months I-III and X-XII are preserved.

    “The tablet originally covered a full year of observations, but only data from lunar months I-III (obverse) and X-XII (reverse) are now preserved.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingown data
    § Abstract

    By the morning of 13 March the Moon would have already passed conjunction with the Sun and would reappear in the evening sky on 14 March.

    “by the morning of 13 March the Moon would have already passed conjunction with the Sun and would reappear in the evening sky on 14 March.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data
    § The Babylonian auroral record

    The date of the Berlin text is well preserved, with the first line giving Year 37 of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, and confirmed at the end of the reverse.

    “Unlike so many other LBAT, its date is well preserved.The first line of the obverse begins:”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim.

    Findingreasoning
    § Abstract

    Similar remarks apply to ordinary meteorological phenomena and occasional human events noted in the diaries.

    “Similar remarks apply to ordinary meteorological phenomena (such as rain showers or thunderstorms) and also the occasional human events noted in the diaries.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Findingnone given
    § Scientific interpretation of the auroral record

    The Babylonian text from 567 BC is contained in a diary devoted to recording astronomical phenomena, compiled by observers with specific responsibility for watching the sky.

    “By contrast, the Babylonian text from 567 BC is contained in a diary devoted to the recording of astronomical phenomena (mainly involving the Moon and planets), which was compiled by observers with specific responsibility for watching the sky.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Findingnone given
    § The Babylonian auroral record

    The Berlin text (VAT 4956) is the second oldest Babylonian astronomical diary in existence.

    “The Berlin text is the second oldest Babylonian astronomical diary in existence.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Abstract

    The duration of the red glow is referred to by the two double hours in the quotation.

    “In view of these remarks, there seems little alternative to supposing that in the above quotation the duration of the red glow is referred to.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • It may state two separate claims as one.

    Premisecitation
    § The Babylonian auroral record

    The geomagnetic (dipole) latitude of Babylon was about 41°N in 567 BC, compared with the present value of 27.5°N.

    “This observation occurred at a time when the geomagnetic (dipole) latitude of Babylon was about 41°N compared with the present value of 27.5°N”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Constable et al. 2000 source
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Abstract

    The second omen example would seem to refer to some phenomenon of the lower atmosphere, such as a dust storm.

    “The second example quoted above would seem to refer to some phenomenon of the lower atmosphere -e.g. a dust storm.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Conclusion

    The scientific relevance of the LBAT may be far from exhausted.

    “suggests that the scientific relevance of the LBAT may be far from exhausted.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Scientific interpretation of the auroral record

    If the auroral band is overhead, an observer looking west or east observes a long path length through the luminosity and therefore sees a brighter glow.

    “If the band is overhead, an observer looking west or east observes a long path length through the luminosity and therefore sees a brighter glow.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The most usual form of auroral display is a long luminous band that arcs from horizon to horizon in a magnetic east-west direction.
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Abstract

    The red glow was presumably a relatively short-lived phenomenon.

    “Presumably it was a relatively short-lived phenomenon.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Scientific interpretation of the auroral record

    This would be described as a red glow in the west or east, depending on which region is brighter.

    “This would be described as a red glow in the west or east, depending on which region is brighter.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The most usual form of auroral display is a long luminous band that arcs from horizon to horizon in a magnetic east-west direction.
  • Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Scientific interpretation of the auroral record

    The references to akukutu in the omen tablets suggest that the phenomenon was known considerably earlier than the observation reported in this paper.

    “The references to akukutu in the omen tablets suggest that the phenomenon was known considerably earlier than the observation reported in this paper.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
15 of 15
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The various events in Babylonian astronomical diaries were recorded as they were observed, not retrospectively.

    “It appears that the various events were recorded as they were observed, not retrospectively when a few months of data had been compiled.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The most common colour in the high-latitude aurora is green.

    “The most common colour in the high-latitude aurora is green.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The relatively rare aurorae that are seen at low latitudes are most commonly red and are known as great red aurorae.

    “However, the relatively rare aurorae that are seen at low latitudes are most commonly red and consequently are known as great red aurorae.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The most usual form of auroral display is a long luminous band that arcs from horizon to horizon in a magnetic east-west direction.

    “The most usual form of auroral display is a long luminous band that arcs from horizon to horizon in a magnetic east-west direction.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Under very intense geomagnetic activity, the main auroral display moves even further towards the equator and can sometimes be seen to the south of the observing site.

    “Such aurorae are observed most frequently in a general northerly direction from a particular site, but under very intense geomagnetic activity the main auroral display moves even further towards the equator and can sometimes be seen to the south of the observing site.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Babylonian day began at sunset.

    “(the Babylonian day began at sunset)”
6 of 6

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Citation points to a volume outside the tablet's date range

    Minor

    The paper attributes its translation of a 567 BC entry to Sachs and Hunger (1989), but the cited volume covers 261-165 BC. The listed 1988 volume covers 567 BC.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. Fritz H, 1881, Das Polarlicht
  2. Gelb I G, 1964, The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago
  3. Neugebauer P V, 1915, Berichte uber die Verhandlungen der Koniglich Sachsischen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften, 67, 29
  4. Sachs A J, 1988, Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Vol. I: 652 B.C. to 262 B.C.
  5. Sachs A J, 1989, Astronomical Diaries and Related Texts from Babylonia, Vol. II: 261 B.C. to 165 B.C.
  6. Weidner E F, 1912, Babyloniaca, 6, 1

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Metadata

Authors
Stephenson, F. R., Willis, D. M., & Hallinan, T. J.
Affiliations
  • Durham University (GB)
  • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (GB)
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks (US)
Venue
Astronomy and Geophysics
Published
2004-12
Volume
45
Issue
6
Pages
6.15-6.17
ISSN
  • 1366-8781 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-4004
OpenAlex
W2135762156
Cited by
46
References
28
Citations by year
2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1
FWCI
0.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Astronomy & Geophysics (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Historical Astronomy and Related Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › History and Developments in Astronomy
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
Keywords
aurora borealis, Nebuchadnezzar II, clay tablets, historical astronomical observations, geomagnetic latitude, Babylon, history of astronomy

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