Aryabhata's Solar Eclipse Observations in 519 AD
The paper by K Chandra Hari presented in August 10 issues of Current Science supplements his earlier study that establishes the location of the eclipse observation as being Ponnani in Kerala. This is where the west coast intercepted the prime meridian of Ujjayani). To be more precise, the location was 10N51 and 75E45.
The current paper talks in more detail about Aryabhata’s sea voyage to make the observation of a solar eclipse.
Aryabhata is kind of a breaker of traditions. He was the person who modernized Indian astronomy and corrected many of the errors left by others before him. While doing this solar eclipse, he’s said to have been ousted from his community for committing the double sin of going into the sea and observing the solar eclipse, both of which were considered taboo. There are still superstitions related to the solar eclipse which are followed here in India. So what he did in that August of 519 AD is more laudable.
Read the paper - "Eclipse observed by Aryabhata in Kerala"
Posted at 11:33AM Sep 07, 2007 by Pradeep in Space in India | Comments[0]