Ancient Eclipse Record Reveals Lost Location of Historic Chinese City
QUFU, CHINA – A groundbreaking study analyzing a 2,700-year-old record of a total solar eclipse has not only refined measurements of Earth’s ancient rotation but also pinpointed teh original, previously unknown location of the historic city of Qufu, the ancient capital of the Duchy of Lu. The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, places the true site of Qufu approximately 8 kilometers from where it was previously believed to be.
The discovery stemmed from an international team’s examination of eclipse reports dating back to July 17, 709 BC. By meticulously comparing the ancient eclipse observations with archaeological data and simulating the appearance of the solar corona – the Sun’s outer atmosphere visible during a total eclipse – scientists were able to correct the city’s ancient location. “This correction allowed us to accurately measure the Earth’s rotation during the total eclipse,” explained lead author Hisashi Hayakawa of Nagoya University.
Researchers focused on descriptions of the solar corona found in ancient records. Thes descriptions allowed them to calculate the orientation of the Sun’s rotation axis and recreate the eclipse’s appearance as it would have been seen from Qufu. While acknowledging potential limitations in the reliability of the ancient corona descriptions – as detailed records didn’t reappear for over 700 years - the team asserts the study provides robust new data regarding Earth’s rotation and independently supports recent research on the solar cycle.
The eclipse record itself represents the oldest known documented total solar eclipse, offering a unique window into both astronomical and historical understanding. The findings demonstrate how ancient astronomical events can be leveraged to refine our knowledge of Earth’s past and uncover lost details about significant historical locations.
