Japanese astronomers working at Tsukuba University use ancient cuneiform records on clay tablets to study solar storms that occurred during the time of Ancient Babylon. The results of these studies are published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
During the period of the Babylonian kingdom, one of the oldest sciences - astronomy was in the best conditions of its development. The then scientists were able not only to observe the stars, but also to predict eclipses. This is also indicated by clay tablets preserved from those times. They were used by nobles: they, for example, ordered for themselves this or that observation in order to predict some important event.
Scientists from the University of Tsukuba took 3 clay tablets for analysis, which described the unnatural glow of the sky. These observations were made by astronomers about 2.7 thousand years ago in ancient Nineveh and Babylon. The documents mentioned some red cloud and the sky with the same bright glow. As Japanese studies suggest, documents can read about the aurora.
These phenomena are available for observation when the solar wind enters the Earth’s atmosphere. Most often this happens near the north and south geomagnetic poles. But on the territory of present-day Iraq, where these cities are located, such a phenomenon can hardly be seen.
During a period of high solar activity, auroras are recorded much closer to the equator. And due to changes in the magnetic field, the geomagnetic pole could be much closer to the equator than in the modern era. Consequently, the region of auroras could be much closer to Babylon.
At the same time, tree rings were investigated. They showed that at the times described in the tablets, the carbon-14 content, an indicator of strong solar activity, increased.
Such an accurate time range could be established by analyzing the presence of a radioactive carbon isotope in the atmosphere and comparing the records of three ancient astrologers who wrote clay tablets. They have accurate information about what ancient people saw in heaven.
This study will allow modern scientists to much better predict the possible maximums of solar activity. Such activity is especially important now, when changes in the Earth's magnetic field as a result of the strong activity of the Sun can spoil expensive equipment and even leave most of the inhabitants of the globe without electricity. A study by Japanese scholars will also help to better recreate the historical events taking place during the heyday of the Babylonian kingdom.
