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The SUN Through History!
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To access a collection of space weather events compiled by
Dr. Sten Odenwald, see
THE SOLAR STORMS ARCHIVE
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In Japan, we can find evidence of the importance of the Sun as early as the 6th century
in the tombs of Asuka (south of Nara). In this region,
there are also many constructions that appear to be aligned with the heavens and two,
in particular,
that appear to be aligned with the movements of the Sun:
Sakafune Ishi (liquor ship rock) and Masuda Iwafune
(Masuda ship rock -- Masuda was the name of a lake).
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A central channel of the Sakafune Ishi (image on the left, below) is
apparently aligned east-west, corresponding to the direction of sunrise
and sunset at the equinoxes.Taken as a whole, the entire artifact may
have been used to predict (mark) solstice sunsets; however, the entire
rock was moved at one point and it is now misaligned by about 14
degrees. To use the rock as a predictor, the hollow part on the surface
of the rock was filled with water and the reflection of the Sun there
may have been used to estimate dates with respect to the lines that are
29 degrees from due East.
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Another possibility is that the central channel of the Sakafune Ishi was
purposefully not precisely oriented. In this case, the channel
parallels the ridge line on which the Masuda Iwafune (image on the
right, above) is located.
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The image to the right shows the Sun rising from behind
the Intihuatana Stone
at the Inca site of Machu Picchu in Peru. The massive carved
stone resembles a seat and was an ideal place from which the
Inca king (called "The Inca") could speak to his people.
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To learn more about how technology has been used throughout time
to study the Sun, visit
The Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum's pages on
ANCIENT OBSERVATORIES, TIMELESS KNOWLEDGE.
Now learn about Stonehenge and Woodhenge and Avebury.
References:
1. Sakurai, K. (April 1980), Archaeoastronomy. (26 July 2006)
2. Renshaw, S. and Ihara, S. (March 1997), Astronomy Among Ancient Tombs and Relics in Asuka, Japan. http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/asukas.htm. (26 July 2006)
3. Nara Prefecture. http://www.pref.nara.jp/nara_e/info/10.html. (26 July 2006)
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