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Historical eclipses and Earth's rotation

Stephenson, F.R.

Authors

F.R. Stephenson



Abstract

The Earth, in its diurnal rotation, acts as a remarkably accurate timekeeper. However, small variations in the length of the day occur at the millisecond level. Historical eclipse observations, recorded by various ancient and medieval cultures, enable changes in the Earth's spin rate to be monitored with fair precision as far back as around 700 BC. Although lunar and solar tides are the main causes of long-term changes in the length of the day, the early observations reveal that non-tidal mechanisms are also important. In this paper I review both the historical development of this subject and recent advances.

Citation

Stephenson, F. (2003). Historical eclipses and Earth's rotation. Astronomy and Geophysics, 44(2), 2.22-2.27. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-4004.2003.44222.x

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Apr 1, 2003
Deposit Date Apr 5, 2007
Journal Astronomy and Geophysics
Print ISSN 1366-8781
Electronic ISSN 1468-4004
Publisher Royal Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 44
Issue 2
Pages 2.22-2.27
DOI https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-4004.2003.44222.x


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