Sky characterization Copan 400 to 900 AD

Abstract

The occurrence of astronomical events, in many cases, can be predicted, existing tools and methods to predict various astronomical events that occur and / or that have happened in the past. Particularly, the Maya recognized the movement of the stars in great detail, the occurrence of these events could have been recorded by the Maya in Copan, therefore, this information can support the work of research and interpretation of astronomical legacy of the Maya of Copan. The aim is to identify the relevant astronomical events, visible to the naked eye, at the site of Copan during the period 400 AD to 900 AD, by identification of solar and lunar eclipses. The selected time period coincides with the development of the Mayan Copan Dynasty. The research is descriptive and analytical type, the variables include the type of eclipse, dates of occurrence of eclipses, time duration and magnitude of the eclipses. For the collection of information,it have been used Goddard Space Flight Center of NASA databases for the geographical location of Copan. From the data, they were identified 160 solar eclipses and 236 lunar eclipses, incorporating the Julian dates and classified according to the corresponding Long Count.During this period, no total solar eclipses occurred in this area and during the period of Waxaklaju’n UB’aah K’awiil there werethree partial solar eclipses with more than 75% of observable magnitude, an annular solar eclipse and nineteen total lunar eclipses.

Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Vol.4(2) 2011, 42-66