Book Review: Babylonian Eclipse Records: Babylonian Eclipse Observations from 750 BC to 1 BC

For example, see Steele J. M. , “Applied historical astronomy”, Journal for the history of astronomy , xxxv (2004), 337–55, p. 341.

The expression for ΔT used in the comparisons and canons of eclipses fits the Babylonian data as well as any. However, if the solar eclipse of +454 is to be total in Nanjing, as recorded in Chinese records, then for dates after −200 ΔT should be increased by +1.5 minutes in −100 and +5 minutes in year 0, such adjustments having the effect of reducing the tabular times of phases expressed in universal or local time. Recently, L. V. Morrison and F. R. Stephenson have independently published revised estimates of ΔT (“Historical values of the Earth's clock error ΔT and the calculation of eclipses”, Journal for the history of astronomy , xxxv (2004), 327–36, p. 332) which depart from Huber's values (as adjusted) by less than 2 minutes for the period in question except between −600 and −700, when, anomalously, they exceed Huber's ΔT by up to 10 minutes.

Sachs A. J. Hunger H. , Astronomical diaries and related texts from Babylonia , i-iii: Diaries 652 B.C. to 61 B.C. (Vienna, 1988–96).

Hunger H. , ed. with material by A. J. Sachs and an Appendix by Steele J. M. , Astronomical diaries and related texts from Babylonia , v: Lunar and planetary texts (Vienna, 2001).

Steele J. M. , “Appendix: The eclipse texts”, in Hunger , op. cit. (ref. 4), 391, and note 2, citing Walker C. B. F. , “Achaemenid chronology and the Babylonian sources”, in Curtis J. (ed.), Mesopotamia and Iran in the Persian period: Conquest and imperialism 539–331 BC (London, 1997), 17–25; also Steele , op. cit. (ref. 1), 342.