Aurora Observations from the Principality of Transylvania from the 16th to the 18th Century CE

Abstract

AbstractWe focused on the period from about 1500 CE to 1800 CE and present a compilation of 78 different auroral sightings for the period from the geographical area of the former Principality of Transylvania, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary, and we give source quotations in English translation. Of the 78 potential aurorae, 23 are missing from the catalog of Rethly and Berkes (1963) and are introduced here for the first time into the scientific discourse on past solar activity. The region of Transylvania located around 46° northern latitude is a good geographical indicator for an auroral oval extending unusually far towards the Equator. The reports of seven celestial phenomena from Transylvania during the period of the Maunder minimum (1645 – 1715), which are considered genuine northern lights at a medium to very high probability level, suggest that even during this time of greatly reduced solar activity, aurorae penetrated down to near 45° latitude. Three of these potential aurorae, however, fall within the 18th century, when the Sun was already recovering from the deep minimum phase. Comparing the distribution of potential auroral sightings in Transylvania from the 16th to the 18th century clearly shows, in comparison with other aurora catalogs and with reconstructed solar activity, that high selectivity due to the historical-source situation (incomplete chronicles, lost reports, and lack of scientific interest on the part of chroniclers) makes statements about actual long-term distributions almost impossible. Furthermore, the catalog of Rethly and Berkes is shown to be rather incomplete and to contain several doubtful entries.