The total eclipse of the sun of July 29, AD1478, in contemporary Spanish documents

Abstract

The total solar eclipse on July 29, AD 1478, went unnoticed by most of Europe. Although several scholars accurately predicted it, very few observations made by professional astronomers have survived, and these contain very little relevant information. In contrast, several observations, many of which unknown or unpublished, made by casual eyewitnesses have reached our days from the different kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. We present six such observations. These descriptions, collected in observations, chronicles, or diaries, although not professional, provide interesting information that, in some cases, lead us to obtain valid values for the Δ T parameter.