Provenance of the Cross Sign of 806 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: A possible Lunar Halo over Continental Europe?
Yuta Uchikawa|Les Cowley|Hisashi Hayakawa|D. M. Willis|F. R. Stephenson
While graphical records of astronomical/meteorological events before telescopic observations are particular interest, they have frequently undergone multiple copying and may been modified from the original. Here, we analyze a record cross-sign 806 CE in Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which has considered one earliest datable halo drawings British records, whereas another 776 associated with aurora. However, philological studies revealed later event is derived Continental annals. for philologically traced back to mid-9th Century manuscripts probable observational site identified as area Sens northern France. The possible lunar halos at that time comprehensively examined by numerical ray tracing. Combined calculations twilight sky brightness, identify visibility window supporting monastic observation. Cruciform shown be fainter rarer than brighter more commonplace halos. Physically credible cloud ice crystal variations can reproduce all manuscript renditions. prove less desirable detail but what presented fully consistent interpretation. Finally, societal impacts such celestial mentioned context contemporary coins England Carolingian Empire. These analyses show need trace their provenance far possible, best reconstruct original event, even if available given events.
arXiv (Cornell University)|arXiv (Cornell University)