The First Observations of Sun-Spots

Abstract

AT p. 284 of NATURE, vol i., the following paragraph occurs:— "Dr. Kirkwood commences by reminding us that the most ancient observations of sun-spots of which we have any record, are those of the Chinese in the year 321 AD.; the first notice of their detection by Europeans being found in the Annals of the Frankish Kings. A black spot, according to Adelmus, was seen on the sun's disk March 15, 807, and continued visible eight days. Similar phenomena were again observed from May 28 to August 26, A,D. 840. The year 1096 was also signalised by the appearance of spots so large as to be visible to the naked eye. The next date, in chronological order, is that of 1161, when a spot was seen by Averröes. Finally, on December 7, 8, and 16, 1590, 'a great blacke spot on the sunne' was observed at sea by those on board the ship Richard of ArundelL The foregoing are, we believe, the only undoubted instances in which these phenomena were observed previous to the invention of the telescope."