1114/5 CE Mamistra and Marash Quakes

Aliases	Arabic
Sibṭ ibn al-Jawzi	سبط ابن الجوزي
Shams al-din Abu al-Muzaffar Yusuf ibn Kizoghlu

Comet Catalogues

Kronk (1999)

1109 CE

from Kronk (1999 v.1:193)

Two contemporary British texts give similar details of this object. The Chronicon ex Chronica (1118) and the Historia Novorum in Anglia (1122) both say an object was seen near the Milky Way during December. The former text refers to it as a comet, while the latter calls it a star. Both texts say it had a tail directed toward the southern part of the sky.

The Scottish text Chronicle of Melrose (1275) simply says "a comet appeared."

FULL MOON: December 9

SOURCES:

Chronicon ex Chronica (1118), p. 219
Historia Novorum in Anglia (1177), p. 226
Chronicle of Melrose (1275), p. 142
A. G. Pingre (1783), pp. 389-90
G. F. Chambers (1889), p. 575.

1110 CE - C/1110 K1

from Kronk (1999 v.1:193-195)

Discovered: 1110 May 28.8 (Δ=0.72 AU, r=0.85 AU, Elong.=56°)
Last seen: 1110 July
Closest to the Earth: 1110 June 11 (0.4807 AU)
Calculated path: PSC (Disc), AND (Jun. 1), CAS (Jun. 6), CEP (Jun. 12), DRA (Jun. 15), UMi (Jun. 16), DRA (Jun. 22), UMa (Jun. 23), CVn (Jun. 30)

Just four years after the appearance of the Great Comet of 1106, the skies were graced by another comet that was observed worldwide. Where the 1106 comet is important because of its possible relationship to the sungrazing family of comets, the comet of 1110 is important because it may be a previous appearance of the lost periodic comet Pons—Gambart which was only seen in 1827. This was also the first comet for which numerous detailed observations were provided by the Koreans. These observations played a major role in the determination of the orbit below.

The Chinese were apparently the first to spot this comet, with the texts Wen hsien t'ung k'ao (1308), Sung shih (1345), and Hsii Thung Chien Kong Mu (1476) giving pertinent details. The Chinese said a "broom star" was first seen on 1110 May 29. The comet appeared at the Khuei [β, δ, ε, ζ, η, μ, ν, and π Andromedae, and σ, τ, υ, φ, χ, and ψ 65 Piscium], and the Lou [α, β, and γ Arietis], with its rays measuring about 6°. It moved northward to enter the Tzu-Wei Enclosure [Draco, Ursa Minor, Cepheus, and Camelopardalis]. It then entered the horizon and went out of sight in the northwest. The date and location indicate a morning sky observation, and a probable UT of May 28.8.

The second culture to report this comet was the Koreans, who recorded the most extensive series of observations. The astronomical chapter of the Korean text Koryo-sa (1451) reports that a "broom star" was first seen on 1110 May 31. This comet is reported to have been within the Tzu-Wei Enclosure. On June 6 it is said to have appeared at the second watch of the night between T'ien-Chiang-Chiin [γ, υ, and 51 Andromedae, φ Persei, and β and γ Triartgulum] and Ko-Tao [ε, θ, ι, φ, and χ Cassiopeiae] and gone out of sight in the morning. On June 8 it appeared at Fu-Lu [ζ Cassiopeiae] and Tshe-Hsing [α Cassiopeiae]. On June 9 it was seen at the southwest of Wang-Liang [α, β, γ, η, κ, and υ Cassiopeiae]. On June 10 it appeared between Hua-Kai [ψ, ω, 32, 40, 42, 43, 48, and 50 Cassiopeiae] and Chhuan-She [13, 32, 55, and SAO 11424 in Cassiopeiae, SAO 12704, SAO 12743, and SAO 24054 in Camelopardalis, and SAO 20853 in Cepheus]. On June 12 it was below Hua-Kai, but was seen at the north of Liu-Chia [SAO 1179, SAO 5496, SAO 5946, SAO 6022, and SAO 6392 in Camelopardalis, and SAO 783 in Cepheus]. On June 14 it was said to have moved into the stars of Nii-Yn-Kung [τ, χ, 35, and 59 Draconis]. The probable UT of the discovery observation was May 30.8. Although the comet could have been observable the entire night for the remainder of the observations, it would have been best placed in the morning sky, implying UTs of June 5.8, 7.8, 8.8, 9.8, 11.8, and 13.8.

The Japanese were the next culture to discover this comet independently. In the text Dainihonshi (1715) the first appearance of this "broom star" is given as June 1. The comet measured about 5° and appeared in the east and lasted more than 20 days before going out of sight. The date and location indicate a possible morning sky observation, implying a UT of May 31.8.

The Muslim texts Mir'at al-zaman fi tarikh al- a'yan (1186) and al-Kamil fi al-ta'rikh (1233) indicate this comet was first seen barely one day after the Chinese discovery. The al-Kamil fi al-ta'rikh says, "On 8 Dhu al—Qa' da [May 30] there appeared in the heavens a star in the east with an elongated tail towards the qibla [i.e., south] and continued to rise until the end of Dhu al-Hijja [mid. July]." These accounts give the longest duration of any reports.

In Europe, details of this comet appear in monastic histories written in England, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Scotland, and France. Most of these simply say a comet was seen or a comet was seen in June, but a few do provide additional details. The Belgium text Chronica (1111) says the comet "radiated straight toward the south" during June. The British text Chronicon ex Chron-ica (1118) says the comet first appeared on June 8 and "continued visible for three weeks." The Italian text Annales Beneventani (1130) claims the cornet remained visible for 30 days. The German text Annales Corbeienses (1148) says the comet was seen from June 9 until June 30. The Peterborough edi¬tion of the English text Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (1154) notes, " . . in the month of June, a star appeared in the northeast, and its ray stood out in front of it to the southwest, and was seen thus for many nights; and later on in the night, after it climbed higher, it was seen going away to the northwest." The English text Chronicle of Henry of Huntington (1154) notes, "This year a comet made a very unusual appearance; for, rising in the east, when it had mounted in the sky it seemed to take a retrograde course." The Italian text Chronicon (1178) mentions a comet seen during the entire month of June in the north. The French text Chronicae S. Albini Andegavensis (1357) notes, "the entire month of June a comet was visible, where at one time a ray extended to the east and thereafter turned to the south." The English text Annales Monasterii de Bermundeseia (1433) says, "At the same time of year that the moon was diminishing in June the comet appeared." The German text Annales Parchenses (1316) places the comet in 1111 July.

A link to the lost periodic comet Pons—Gambart was first suggested in 1972, when S. Kanda considered it as a "a probable identification." The suggested link was strengthened in 1979 when I. Hasegawa derived three rough positions for the period of May 29 to June 11 and computed an orbit. Upon comparing the orbit to that of Pons-Gambart he noted a resemblance and agreed with Kanda's earlier conclusion.

Hasegawa's orbit below gives the following details of the comet's movement. The comet reached a minimum solar elongation of 22° on April 3. On June 16 it reached a maximum declination of +84° (apparent). On June 25 the comet reached a maximum solar elongation of 76°.

T 1110 May 18 (UT)
ω 358
Ω (2000.0) 321
i 137
q 0.83
e 1.0

ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE: H_m=5.0 (Kronk)
FULL MOON: May 5, June 4, July 3

SOURCES:

Chronica (1111), p. 372
Chronicon ex Chronica (1118), p. 219
Annales Leodienses (1121), p. 29
Annales Beneventani (1130), p. 183
Annales Formoselenses (1136), p. 36
Annales Corbeienses (1148), p. 7
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (1154), p. 242
Chronicle of Henry of Huntington (1154), p. 244
Chronicon (1178), pp. 204-5
Mir'at al-zainan fi tarikh al- a'yan (1186), VIII, p. 32
Chronicle of Holyrood (1189), p. 114
Chronica (1201), p. 167
Chronicon S. Sergii Andegavensis (1215), p. 143
al-Kama fi al-ta'rikh (1233), X, p. 478
Annales Colonienses Maxinti (1238), p. 748
Chronica Majora (1247), part 2, p. 138
Annales Monasterii de Win-tonia (1277), p. 43
Annales Monasterii de Waverleia (1291), p. 214
Wen hsien Cling k'ao (1308), p. 187
Annales Eginundani (1315), p. 449
Annales Parchenses (1316), p. 604
Sung shih (1345), p. 187
Chronicae S. Albini Andegavensis (1357), p. 31
Chronicon Sancti Maxen-tii Pictavensis (14th century), p. 424
Annales Monasterii de Bermundeseia (1433), p. 431
Koryo-sa (1451), p. 187
Hsii Thung Chien Kang Mu (1476), p. 187
Dainihonshi (1715), p. 187
A. G. Pingre (1783), pp. 390, 627
J. Williams (1871), pp. 60-1
G. F. Chambers (1889), p. 575
Early Sources of Scottish History: A.D. 500-1286, Volume 2, edited and translated by Alan Orr Anderson, London: Oliver and Boyd (1922), p. 142
Nihon Temmon Shiryo (1935), p. 505
EHD2 (1953), p. 181
Ho Peng Yoke (1962), p. 187
R. R. Newton (1972), pp. 671, 673, 676, 680
I. Hasegawa (1979), pp. 260-1, 263-4.

1113 CE

from Kronk (1999 v.1:195)

1113 The astronomical chapter of the Korean text Koryo-sa (1451) is the sole source of information on this object. It reports that a "sparkling star" was seen on 1113 August 15. The object was seen at the Ying-Shih [α and β Pegasi]. The date and location indicate a morning observation and a probable UT of August 14.8.

FULL MOON: July 30, August 28

SOURCES:

Koryo-sa (1451), p. 187
A. G. Pingre (1783), p. 391
G. F. Chambers (1889), p. 575
Ho Peng Yoke (1962), p. 187
I. Hasegawa (1980), pp. 78, 93

1114 CE

from Kronk (1999 v.1:196)

1114 This comet was widely reported in monastic histories of the 12th-15th centuries, with dates ranging from 1113 to 1115. The vast majority of reports place the comet in 1114. Although its late May visibility makes it somewhat similar to C/1110 K1, the consistent descriptions of a long tail contradict the observations of C/1110 K1 and add to the likelihood that there was a large comet seen in 1114.

The details of this comet come primarily from England. The Peterborough edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (1154) notes, "This year, towards the end of May, a strange star was seen shining with long rays for many nights." Henry of Huntingdon wrote Historia Anglorum around 1154. For 1114 he said, "Comet appeared at the end of May." The Chronica Majora (1247) was written by Matthew Paris. He noted that in 1114, a "comet appeared in the month of May." Paris also wrote that an "enormous comet" appeared in 1113 during the month of May. His style of compiling his historical text from other sources, as well as the lack of support for a comet seen during 1113 May, makes it likely that this was a misdated account of the 1114 comet. The Annales Monasterii de Waverleia (1291) reports for 1114, "A strange star was seen at the end of May, with a long light visible for many nights." The Annales Monasterii de Bermundeseia (1433) said, "Comet again appeared in May." This text also copied virtually every bit of historical information from other sources.

The Welsh text Annales de Margan (1232) actually says a "comet appeared" in 1115, but the lack of reliable support makes it likely that this was comet 1114. For the object dated as 1115, I. Hasegawa (1980) gave the date as June.

FULL MOON: May 21, June 20

SOURCES:

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (1154), p. 244
Historia Auglorum (1154), p. 239
Annales de Margan (1232), p. 10
Chronica Majora (1247), part 2, pp. 140-1
Annales Monasterii de Waverleia (1291), p. 215
Annales Monasterii de Bernitindeseia (1433), p. 432
A. G. Pingre (1783), p. 391
G. F. Chambers (1889), p. 576
EHD2 (1953), p. 183
I. Hasegawa (1980), pp. 78, 93.

Mirror of time in histories of the notables by Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi