Evidence of Eta Aquariid outbursts recorded in the classic Maya hieroglyphic script using orbital integrations

• Published in: Planetary and space science Vol. 144; pp. 112 - 125
• Main Authors: Kinsman, J.H., Asher, D.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.09.2017
• Subjects: Archaeoastronomy; Eta Aquariids; Maya astronomy; Meteor outburst; Maya astronomy; Meteor outburst; Eta Aquariids; Archaeoastronomy
• ISSN: 0032-0633; 1873-5088
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2017.04.024

No firm evidence has existed that the ancient Maya civilization recorded specific occurrences of meteor showers or outbursts in the corpus of Maya hieroglyphic inscriptions. In fact, there has been no evidence of any pre-Hispanic civilization in the Western Hemisphere recording any observations of any meteor showers on any specific dates. The authors numerically integrated meteoroid-sized particles released by Comet Halley as early as 1404 BC to identify years within the Maya Classic Period, AD 250–909, when Eta Aquariid outbursts might have occurred. Outbursts determined by computer model were then compared to specific events in the Maya record to see if any correlation existed between the date of the event and the date of the outburst. The model was validated by successfully explaining several outbursts around the same epoch in the Chinese record. Some outbursts observed by the Maya were due to recent revolutions of Comet Halley, within a few centuries, and some to resonant behavior in older Halley trails, of the order of a thousand years. Examples were found of several different Jovian mean motion resonances as well as the 1:3 Saturnian resonance that have controlled the dynamical evolution of meteoroids in apparently observed outbursts. •First scientific investigation of any meteor outbursts being observed on specific dates in the ancient Maya culture.•Our model validated by successfully explaining several outbursts recorded by ancient China.•Possible connection established to the eta Aquariid shower with royal accessions in the Maya Classic Period.•Possible outbursts caused by recent Comet Halley trails or particles trapped in both Jovian and Saturnian resonances.•Extreme outburst in AD 531 possibly noted by the Maya.