Since 1610, scientists have been tracking the number and location of sunspots using telescopes. Thanks to these observations, we know the history of the luminary’s activity cycles. There were abnormal periods of this activity. One of the “discrepancies” in the solar cycles was explained with the help of Johann Kepler’s drawings.
In the book in 1609 The unique event is that Mercurius is in Sole German astronomer Johann Kepler described a spot on the Sun that he thought was Mercury. Later, the scientist retracted the publication, admitting that his conclusion was wrong. It was actually a group of sunspots. And most importantly, Kepler observed it in 1607, even before the use of telescopes.
An international group of researchers led by scientists from Nagoya University (Japan) has examined Johann Kepler’s drawings for their scientific value. The results are published in the journal Astrophysics Journal Letters.
“Since these observations were not made with a telescope, they have always been considered only in the context of the history of science and were not used for quantitative analysis of solar cycles in the 17th century. After all, this is the oldest sunspot sketch made with the help of instruments and projection,” explained Hisashi Hayakawa, the lead author of the new study.
According to the scientist, he and his colleagues realized that if they could calculate the time and place of Kepler’s observations and determine the inclination of the Sun in the picture, they could calculate the exact location of sunspots and the phase of the solar cycle in 1607.
Source: Port Altele
