Nippon Shoki "A red spirit resembling the shape of a pheasant's tail in heaven" is Aurora on March 24 5:56
k10012346171_202003240459_202003240547.mp4
Research groups such as the National Institute of Polar Research have published an analysis that the description of the oldest astronomical record in the Nippon Shoki as describing the aurora borealis.
The Nippon Shoki is a Japanese history book edited 1300 years ago, and in December 620 A.D., during the Asuka era, a red-skin-like red pheasant shaped like a pheasant's tail appeared in heaven. It is said that it is Japan's oldest astronomical record of "Aurora" and "Comet".
Research groups such as the National Institute of Polar Research and the National Museum of Japanese Literature estimated that the Earth's geomagnetism during the Asuka era was more likely to see the northern lights in the Kinki region. Was recorded as reddish and fan-shaped.
From these facts, the research group published an analysis that the description of the Nippon Shoki describes the fan-shaped aurora observed around Nara where the capital was at the time, as if the pheasant had expanded its tail. Did.
It is said that the details are often found by comparing these descriptions with other records of the same period, but there is no other record including Chinese documents, and the details are mysterious That is.
"I think people at the time were also surprised by the aurora. The sensitivity of people like pheasants is also interesting," said Associate Professor Kataoka Tatsumine of the National Institute of Polar Research.