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Observational Records of Stars in Indian Astronomical Texts


Affiliations
1 Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, High Grounds, Bengaluru - 560 001, India
2 Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute for Science Education and Research, Pune - 411 008, India
 

In an effort to search observational records of stars in the Indian astronomical texts, we have compiled all bright stars in various texts from Suryasiddhanta to Siddhantadarpana by Candrasekhara Samanta of the 19th century, totalling to 106 based on the listed coordinates. Using the 27 naksatras on the ecliptic, used for fixing the position of the solar system bodies, the coordinates were matched for the epochs of the catalogues. This resolved some ambiguity with respect to the identification of faint stars and provided a means to extend the method to other stars outside the zodiac. We have specifically chosen those lists which are characterized by observations that are highlighted in the discussion. Our study reveals that a scale similar to the magnitude scale of brightness (currently in use) was in vogue. The origins of the names are also described.
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  • Observational Records of Stars in Indian Astronomical Texts

Abstract Views: 354  |  PDF Views: 112

Authors

B. S. Shylaja
Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, High Grounds, Bengaluru - 560 001, India
R. Venketeswara Pai
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute for Science Education and Research, Pune - 411 008, India

Abstract


In an effort to search observational records of stars in the Indian astronomical texts, we have compiled all bright stars in various texts from Suryasiddhanta to Siddhantadarpana by Candrasekhara Samanta of the 19th century, totalling to 106 based on the listed coordinates. Using the 27 naksatras on the ecliptic, used for fixing the position of the solar system bodies, the coordinates were matched for the epochs of the catalogues. This resolved some ambiguity with respect to the identification of faint stars and provided a means to extend the method to other stars outside the zodiac. We have specifically chosen those lists which are characterized by observations that are highlighted in the discussion. Our study reveals that a scale similar to the magnitude scale of brightness (currently in use) was in vogue. The origins of the names are also described.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv115%2Fi3%2F570-573