Astronomy & Cosmology
Eclipses explained by shadows
499 CEAryabhataAryabhatiyaPan-Indian / unspecified
499 CE
Explained lunar and solar eclipses as shadows cast by Earth and Moon, rejecting the demon Rahu myth.
- Dated
- 499 CE
- As scholars put it
- 499 CE
- Originator
- Aryabhata
- Source text
- Aryabhatiya
- Region
- Pan-Indian / unspecified
- Discipline
- Astronomy & Cosmology
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Verification
- Reference-cited
Meanwhile in the West
Matches the modern scientific explanation.
Fair to say
Greek astronomers also understood eclipse geometry.
Path to modern innovation
Correct celestial mechanics of eclipses.
Transmission
Independent scientific reasoning.
Primary sources
- 3The Aryabhatiya Of AryabhataUnreviewed
- 4Aryabhatiya of Aryabhata: 3 volumesUnreviewed
References
- 1Aryabhatiya (499 CE)
Further reading
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-024 on GitHub.