History of Eclipse

The first sense of the eclipse the Moon is found in a book entitled China Zhou-Shu, a book of the Zhou Dynasty. This book was found in the year 280 AD (Anna Domini). Eclipse is in the book is an eclipse that occurred centuries earlier. B.C. Russell believes that the eclipse is described in the book relate to events that occurred on January 29, 1136 BC (Before Christ).

While John Steele revealed that the first month of the eclipse observation notes made by the Babylonians was the first year Nabonassar regime precisely in 747 BCE (Before the Common Era). At that time, the Babylonians were able to make a calculation of the eclipse, which is known as the Year of Saros (of Sharu Babylonian language). Long saros year is equal to the pay off period 223 (1 pay off = average sinodic 1 month = 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes 3 seconds) or approximately 6585 third day, which is 18 years old, 10 or 11 days and 8 hours. 223 pay off the approximately equal to 239 anomalistic month (6585, 537 days), both to within less than 6 hours.

This makes saros interval period other than returning the Moon phase and the same node, it will also restore the Moon at approximately the same distance from Earth. Therefore, the results of this observational record Babylonia contribute knowledge that eclipses are separated by saros period will have a similar characteristic of. In 585 BC the famous philosopher Thales, transmitting knowledge from Babylonian saros cycle to the Greeks. He has also predicted that it would happen in eclipse. Thales's prediction turned out right once and at the time it really happened eclipse.

During its development, eclipse phenomenon does not necessarily understood as natural phenomena scientifically. There are some people who interpret as a supernatural power. On 9 October 425 BC, Wizard of women from Greece exactly Thessaly region claim to have the ability to extinguish the light of the moon and down from the sky. Understanding the development of the eclipse is not going to be separated from various mythologies. The people in the time of ignorance to believe that the eclipse occurs when the birth and death of great men. Prophet cancel this belief and explains the wisdom of God in the occurrence of the eclipse.

When the death of the Prophet's son, Ibrahim, there are some groups who believe that the sun eclipse because of the death of Ibrahim experience. They say so with the intention of glorifying the Holy Prophet and his son. When the Prophet heard what they are saying, Prophet angry, then preach to them that it explains that the Sun and the Moon are two sign among the signs that show the power of God Almighty and no one else for one's power against them. Both did not experience an eclipse because his death or someone, no matter how great the person. So the death or birth of someone no effect at all on the eclipse the Sun and Moon.

An astronomer from the famous Egyptian named Mahmud al-Falaky Phasya using Saros has calculated the number of years of the eclipse that occurred at the time of the death of Sayyid Ibrahim son of Prophet Muhammad. The eclipse occurred in the year 10 AH, precisely on Monday 29 Shawwal 10 H coincides with M 632 on January 27, 0830 in Book Irsyȃd pagi.46 While al-Student, solar eclipse that occurred in the year 632 AD that occurred on Jan. 30 coincides with the month of the year 10 H. Shafar

Periodicity of eclipses in one year has a pattern alongside eclipse. Obviously, not only eclipse the Sun alone, eclipsing the Moon has ever happened in the Prophet. In the book of al-Ershad Pupils that in the days right after the Apostle Prophet migrated from Mecca to Medina, there have been 8 times eclipse the Moon is composed of 5 times and a total eclipse of the Moon 3 times a partial eclipse of the Moon.

While the Fuqaha and Muhadisin found at the time of the Messenger of Allah did not eclipse of the Moon occurs but once and Apostles perform prayers upon. scholars of hadith opinion of jurists and this does not necessarily invalidate the above view of experts reckoning. In their view, although occurred 8 times eclipse, moon eclipse salat Prophet only once precisely the total eclipse the Moon in 5th Hijriyah. The Prophet did not perform prayer Moon eclipse to eclipse that occurred before that year because it has not prescribed. Eclipse that occurred after the partial eclipse that is not perfect in the end except eclipse only. 5 years Hijra is the beginning of the eclipse prayer in Islam.

In essence, the history of the eclipse will not be separated from the development of astronomy. Eclipse is one astronomical phenomenon that has always attracted the attention of people with a wide range of interpretation, whether it be scientific interpretation, supernatural and mythology. Therefore, the development of the reckoning and understanding, is closely linked with the development of astronomy science.