Serge Koutchmy - Some Historical and Mythical Aspects of the

Serge Koutchmy - Some Historical and Mythical Aspects of the

Library
Libraryofof
Alexandria
Alexandria
March
March26,
26,2006
2006
Some Historical and Mythical
Aspects of the Discovery of
the Solar Corona
Serge
SergeKoutchmy
Koutchmy
Institut
Institutd’Astrophysique
d’Astrophysiquede
deParis
Paris
CNRS
CNRS&&UPMC
UPMC(France)
(France)
13/04/2006
1
Today, the solar corona is continuously analysed:
Several space missions are involved
(SoHO, Trace, Coronas, and others).
In the very near future several missions
will permanently analyse the corona in 3D:
Solar-B; Stereo; Coronas-Ph.; Inter-Helios; Solar-Orbiter..
(also: Ground-based Solar Observatories)
Coronal studies are now organized with great accuracy
and have become part of Space Weather studies.
But When, How and Why did Humanity
discover this fundamental phenomenon ??
13/04/2006
2
The Sun as a symbol
and as an actor in
Antiquity and today...
Consequences:
Consequences:
-- Myths
Myths (Earth
(Earth ;; Atmosphere
Atmosphere ;...)
;...)
-- Religions
Religions (Gods
(Gods ;; Human
Human being
being ;...)
;...)
-- Civilizations;
Civilizations; traditions...
traditions...
13/04/2006
3
The
TheCreation
Creation
W.
W.Blake
Blake(1796)
(1796)
InInsearch
searchofofunderstanding,
understanding,man
manfound
foundininone
one
Creator
Creator
his
hisreligions
religionsand
andthe
thesource
sourceofofhis
hisorigins.
origins.
13/04/2006
4
Akhénaton
Akhénaton (Aménophis
(AménophisIV)
IV)
v.v.1350
1350av.
av.J.-C.
J.-C.(Le
(LeCaire)
Caire)Aton
Aton
InInancient
ancientEgypt,
Egypt,the
thesolar
solardisk
diskwas
was
proposed
as
a
single
divinity
(preproposed as a single divinity (premonotheism)
monotheism)
13/04/2006
5
A « NASA » image;
Solar-Terrestrial relations
Modern
Modernman
manstill
stillconsiders
considers
the
theSun
Sunas
ashaving
havingthe
thesame
same
««magical
»
influence
magical » influenceas
as
3000
years
ago.
3000 years ago.
But
Butwhat
whatabout
aboutits
itscorona
corona??
??
Scarab
Scaraband
andthe
the««winged
winged»»
Sun:
Sun:symbol
symbolofofthe
thedaily
daily
rebirth
of
the
Sun.
rebirth of the Sun.
Egypt
Egyptca.
ca.1330
1330B.J.-C.
B.J.-C.
13/04/2006
7
Origin of the myth of the
« winged » Sun ?
Was the corona discovered during a total
eclipse of the Sun ?
Supernatural
Supernaturalinterpretations
interpretationsare
arepresent
present in
in
various
variouscivilizations:
civilizations: Egyptians,
Egyptians, initially;
initially;
Assyrians;
Assyrians;Chinese;
Chinese; Indonesiens;
Indonesiens;Incas;
Incas;
etc.
etc.etc.
etc.
At
Atleast
least1400
1400years
yearsB.
B.J.-C.
J.-C.
13/04/2006
8
Egypte
Egypteancienne
ancienne
Wood
Wood
Louvre
Louvre
The
The««winged
winged»»
Sun-disk
Sun-disk
13/04/2006
9
Southern ceiling- Temple of Thèbes
13/04/2006
10
A.T.
A.T.Moreux
Moreux
Gravure
Gravure
The
Thewinged
wingedSun
Sun isisaa
recurrent
recurrenttheme
themeinin
the
thevestiges
vestigesofof
many
manycivilisations.
civilisations.
13/04/2006
11
Modern
Modernimage
imageof
ofthe
thesolar
solarcorona
corona
@
@Chr.
Chr.Viladrich,
Viladrich,1998
1998
13/04/2006
But
Butisisititthe
thetrue
truecorona
coronathat
thatisis
being
beingunderstood
understood??
??
12
Here the solar disk was represented with an
edging and the head of a cobra which could
describe what is seen in an annular/total eclipse.
Le
Leserpent
serpent(qui
(qui
se
mort
la
se mort la
queue)
queue)est
estlele
symbole
symbole
souvent
souvent
««utilisé
utilisé»» pour
pour
exprimer
exprimerlala
notion
notionde
de
temps...
temps...
13/04/2006
13
The Western limb of the
Eclipse Corona of July 11,
1991
13/04/2006
14
Symbols
Symbolsin
in
Assyria,
Assyria, image
imageof
of
the
thecorona
corona and
and
American
AmericanPhoenix
Phoenix
The
Thesymbol
symbolofofthe
theobscured
obscuredand
and
winged
Sun
is
found
in
many
vestiges
winged Sun is found in many vestiges
ofoffamous
famouscivilizations:
civilizations:perhaps
perhapsthis
thisisis
indeed
indeedthe
thesolar
solarcorona
coronawith
withits
itslarge
large
streamers,
its
prominences
and
polar
streamers, its prominences and polar
plumes
plumesobserved
observedatattotal
totaleclipses
eclipses??
(a(athesis
thesisby
byE.W.
E.W.Maunder,
Maunder,1883,
1883,and
andagain
again
by
Robin
Edgar,
2000)
by Robin Edgar, 2000)
13/04/2006
15
The solar corona is then
« forgotten » for 2000
Years...
Possible
Possiblereasons:
reasons:
--Incompatibility
Incompatibilitywith
withcosmogony
cosmogonyand
and
religion
religion (biblical
(biblicalbeliefs);
beliefs);
--Geocentric
GeocentricModel
Modelof
ofthe
theUniverse
Universe(C.
(C.
Ptolémée);
Ptolémée);
-- Astrology
Astrologywhich
whichallots
allotsto
toplanets
planetsaa
dominant
dominant role
rolein
inhuman
humandestiny.
destiny.
13/04/2006
Up
Upto
toat
atleast
least1600
1600A.J.-C.
A.J.-C.
16
Cathedral
Cathedralofof
Padoue
Padoue
XIVth
XIVthcentury
century
After
AfterAristarchus
AristarchusofofSamos
Samos
(-290)
and
(-290) and
Plutarch
(-50),
Plutarch (-50),triumph
triumphofofthe
the
philosophy
of
philosophy of
Plato
(-370)
Plato (-370)and
andespecially
especiallyofof
Aristotle
Aristotle(-350);
(-350);
model
modelofofC.
C.Ptolemy
Ptolemy(140);
(140);
founding
of
the
biblical
founding of the biblical
cosmogony;
cosmogony;birth
birthofofthe
the
medieval
astrology...
medieval astrology...
13/04/2006
17
H.
H.Schedel;
Schedel;Nuremberg
Nuremberg
(1493)
(1493)
Geocentric
Geocentric««models
models»»
and
and cosmological
cosmological
dogmatism
dogmatism
13/04/2006
18
End of 15th and 16th
centuries: a new era
starts
with the great « discoveries »;
then N. Copernicus who
« rediscovers » the
héliocentric cosmogony. Its
model (1543) is improved by
Képler (1600) , following Tycho
Brahe and others.
The true nature of planets
and satellites, of the Sun and
the Moon, is revealed thanks
to the observations of Galileo
(1610)... Then it is the triumph
of celestial mechanics with
Newton(1700), then Laplace
(1800) and many others.
13/04/2006
18
18ème
èmesiècle
siècle
19
The Universe opens to the curiosity of the man;
end of the Middle Ages ...?!
Gravure
Gravurefrom
fromaa
well-known
well-known
book
bookby
byC.
C.
Flammarion
Flammarion
(19th
(19thcentury)
century)
13/04/2006
20
A « revealed » corona
-- Eclipses
Eclipsesare
arepredicted
predictedwith
withprecision
precision(charts);
(charts);
-- But
Buterrors
errorsin
ininterpreting
interpretingthe
theaureole
aureoleobserved
observed
during
duringtotality;
totality;
-- First
First steps
stepsin
inrealizing
realizingthe
theexistence
existenceof
of aasolar
solar
corona
coronaand
and its
itsinfluence
influence::
Comets
Comets;;
Auroras
Auroras;;
Terrestrial
Terrestrialmagnetism
magnetism
<< 1900
1900
13/04/2006
21
The
Theaureole
aureoleappearing
appearing
during
the
totality
during the totalityofof
eclipses
eclipsesisiswrongly
wrongly
interpreted:
interpreted:Kepler
Kepler
was
the
1st
to
suggest
was the 1st to suggest
effects
effectsdue
duean
an
atmosphere
atmosphere
surrounding
surrounding the
the
Moon;
Halley
Moon; Halley
««confirms
confirms»»using
using
micrometric
micrometric
measurements
measurementsofofthe
the
aureole
during
the
aureole during the
1715
1715eclipse.
eclipse.Arago
Arago
proposed,
just
before
proposed, just before
the
theeclipse
eclipseofof1842,
1842,toto
call
callitit««the
thelunar
lunar
corona
»
but
corona » butthis
this
suggestion
is
quickly
suggestion is quickly
abandoned
abandonedafter
afterthe
the
eclipse.
eclipse.
13/04/2006
Gravure
Gravure
(Flammarion)
(Flammarion)
Eclipse
Eclipse1878
1878
22
Secchi
Secchi
Eclipse
Eclipseofof1851
1851
The
Thecorona
coronaisis
thought
thoughttotobe
bethe
the
result
of
diffraction
result of diffraction
effects
effectson
onthe
theedges
edges
ofofthe
Moon
the Moon! !
Or
Orpossibly
possiblydue
duetoto
some
somerefraction
refraction
effect
in
the
effect in theEarth’s
Earth’s
atmosphere
atmosphere
13/04/2006
23
Optical
Opticaleffect
effectobserved
observedinin
the
theEarth’s
Earth’satmosphere
atmosphere
after
a
sunset
after a sunset
13/04/2006
24
Secchi
Secchi
Eclipse
Eclipseofof1860
1860
««Aigrettes
Aigrettes»»
and
and
prominences
prominences
13/04/2006
25
Tempel
Tempel
Eclipse
Eclipseofof1860
1860
Here
Hereisisthe
thesame
samecorona
coronaas
as
before
!
It
is
indeed
the
1st
before ! It is indeed the 1st
observation
observationofofaaCME....
CME....
Liais
already
had
Liais already haddrawn
drawnthe
the
structures
structuresofofthe
thecorona
coronaofof
1858
1858and
andhad
hadbrought
broughtback
back
the
1st
measurements
of
the 1st measurements ofthe
the
polarization
of
its
light
as
polarization of its light as
predicted
predictedby
byArago...
Arago...
13/04/2006
26
Warren
Warrende
delalaRue
Rue
Eclipse
Eclipseofof1860,
1860,drawing
drawing
after
the
1st
after the 1st
photographic
photographicplates
plates
Thanks
Thankstoto photography,
photography,the
the
prominences
are
observed
prominences are observed
ininan
anobjective
objectiveway
wayand
and
almost
simultaneously
almost simultaneouslyby
byatat
least
least22observers
observerssituated
situatedatat
22different
differentplaces
placeson
onthe
the
Earth.
The
existence
of
Earth. The existence ofaa
solar
solaratmosphere
atmospherelocated
located
well
beyond
the
disk
well beyond the diskofofthe
the
Moon
Moonisisdemonstrated.
demonstrated.
13/04/2006
27
Thanks
Thanksto
tophotometric
photometricand
andto
topolarimetric
polarimetricwork,
work,
the
theobjective
objectiveexistence
existenceof
ofaasolar
solarcorona
coronaseems
seems
established
established(about
(about1870).
1870).Nevertheless
Neverthelessininhis
his
book
bookon
onthe
theSun,
Sun,written
writteninin1883,
1883,p.p.179,
179,A.C.
A.C.
Young
Youngwrote
wroteabout
aboutthe
thecorona
coronaatateclipses:
eclipses:
««...is
...isthis
thisaaphenomenon
phenomenonof
ofthe
theSun,
Sun,the
theMoon
Moonor
or
of
ofour
ouratmosphere,
atmosphere,or
orperhaps
perhapsaasimple
simpleoptical
optical
effect
effectlike
likeaarainbow
rainbowor
oraahalation
halation??»»
However,
However,other
otherobservations
observationsmilitated
militatedininfavour
favour
of
ofthe
theexistence
existenceof
ofan
anextended
extendedatmosphere
atmosphereof
of
the
theSun:
Sun:
--the
thediscovery
discoveryof
ofthe
thezodiacal
zodiacalcloud;
cloud;
--the
theorientation
orientationof
ofcomet
comet(ionic)
(ionic)tails;
tails;
--polar
polarauroras
aurorasand
anddisturbances
disturbancesof
ofthe
theterrestrial
terrestrial
magnetic
magneticfield...
field...
13/04/2006
28
The
Theionic
ionictails
tailsofofcomets
cometsinin
orbit
orbitaround
aroundthe
theSun
Sun
always
deviate
in
always deviate inthe
the
direction
directionopposed
opposedtotothe
the
Sun.
Sun.
Bierman
much
Bierman muchlater
laterwill
will
propose
the
solar
wind.
propose the solar wind.
13/04/2006
29
Polar
Polarauroras
aurorashad
hadbeen
been
observed
for
a
long
time.
observed for a long time.De
De
Mairan
already
proposed
in
Mairan already proposed in
1733
1733that
thatthey
theywere
weredue
duetoto
emanations
emanationsfrom
fromthe
theSun
Sunofof
comparable
comparablenature
naturetotothe
the
zodiacal
light
measured
zodiacal light measuredby
by
Cassini
in
1683.
He
suggested
Cassini in 1683. He suggested
for
forthe
the1st
1sttime
timeaa««physical
physical»»
connection
connectionbetween
betweenthe
theEarth
Earth
and
the
Sun.
Much
later,
O.
and the Sun. Much later, O.K.K.
Birkeland
Birkeland(1895)
(1895)explained
explainedthe
the
auroras
by
the
flow
of
ionized
auroras by the flow of ionized
particles
particlescoming
comingfrom
fromthe
the
Sun.
Sun.
13/04/2006
30
willbe
benecessary
necessaryto
toawait
awaitprogress
progressinin
ItItwill
spectroscopy and
andthe
thework
workof
ofJanssen,
Janssen,Lockyer,
Lockyer,
spectroscopy
Rayetand
andYoung
Young(about
(about1870),
1870),so
sothat
thatnew
new
Rayet
diagnosticsappear,
appear,making
makingititpossible
possibleto
toestablish
establish
diagnostics
theexistence
existenceof
ofthe
thesolar
solarcorona:
corona:identification
identificationof
of
the
helium;later
laterof
ofcoronium...
coronium...
helium;
Nevertheless,even
evenififthe
thechromosphere
chromosphereand
and
Nevertheless,
prominencesare
arewell
wellobserved
observedoutside
outsideof
oftotal
total
prominences
eclipse,the
theWhite-Light
White-Lightcorona
coronastill
still
eclipse,
remainsquit
quitmysterious.
mysterious.
remains
Soon,other
othernebulas
nebulasare
areobserved
observedaround
aroundother
other
Soon,
stars(Menzel
(Menzeland
andothers).
others).
stars
1930,B.
B.Lyot
Lyotfinally
finallyinvents
inventsthe
thecoronagraph
coronagraphand
and
InIn1930,
definitelyshows
showsthe
thesolar
solarnature
natureof
ofthe
thecorona
corona
definitely
whichnow
nowcan
canbe
bestudied
studiedoutside
outsideof
oftotal
totaleclipse.
eclipse.
which
Theemission
emissionspectra
spectrabecome
become reproducible
reproducibleand
andare
are
The
studiedprecisely.
precisely.
studied
13/04/2006
31
B.
B.Lyot
Lyot(1936)
(1936)
invents
inventsthe
the
solar
solar
coronagraph.
coronagraph.
He
Heis
isas
aswell
well
the
the greatest
greatest
french
french
astrophysicist
astrophysicist
of
ofthe
the20th
20th
century.
century.
13/04/2006
««Coronium
Coronium»»
(the
(the
FeXIV
XIV
LyotFe
forbidden
forbiddenline)
line)
will
be
identified
will be identified
only
onlyin
in1941,
1941,by
by
32
H.
Edlen
H. Edlen
The Corona and Interplanetary Medium
schematic representation of the phenomena seen during a
solar total eclipse
13/04/2006
33
The
TheSXR
SXRcorona
corona observed
observed
inin1992
in
space
1992 in spaceby
bythe
the
Japanese
satellite
Yohkoh
Japanese satellite Yohkoh
(«(«the
therising
risingSun
Sun»)»)shows
shows
the
extraordinary
nature
the extraordinary natureofof
the
thecorona:
corona:aaplasma
plasmaatat
several
severalmillion
millionkelvin
kelvin
temperature
in
perpetual
temperature in perpetual
renewal.
renewal.The
Theorigin
originofofthis
this
corona
still
remains
rather
corona still remains rather
mysterious
mysteriousand
andnot
not
established
although
established althoughititisis
without
withoutdoubt
doubtofofmagnetic
magnetic
origin.
origin.
13/04/2006
34
Conclusions
One will have needed 3000 years
to establish the existence of the
solar corona.
How long will it be necessary to
understand its origin (heating
problem) and its evolution (winds
and loss of mass of the Sun) ?
This is another story............
13/04/2006
35
For the moment, the solar corona can still be
accurately observed
at the time of solar total eclipses.
Soon such eclipse will occur over
4 continents, with rather
good observing sites situated in
Niger, Lybia, Egypt, Turkey etc.
It is a rare
(for a single country)
but well predicted event. It is a
great opportunity to perform
scientic astrophysical experiments.
13/04/2006
36
13/04/2006
37
13/04/2006
38
Theoretical prediction for the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006, 10:40 UT
By Zoran Mikic et al.
13/04/2006
39
Let’s be prepared !
and ...
« shokran »
for your attention.
13/04/2006
40