“99 Percent Partial Eclipse on August 19, 1887 (Meiji Era 20)” (Celestial Curiosities Nishiki-e Collection)
Historical illustration・
This picture is from the “Celestial Curiosities Nishiki-e Collection (Note 1).”
The first half of the text describes a total solar eclipse predicted for August 1887 (Meiji Era 20) (Note 2). It mentions that the total solar eclipse would occur from Shirakawa to Sado. The picture depicts the eclipse as it was expected to be seen from Tokyo, as not quite a total eclipse (99%).
The latter half explains that it would be the first total solar eclipse in 101 years since New Year’s 1786 (Tenmei Era 6) (Note 3) and that during the eclipse colors would appear strange and during totality it would be impossible to see at all. In reality, during a total solar eclipse the sky is like the twilight sky of evening or dawn, so that you can see bright stars as shown in this picture. In the picture, people are looking up at the solar eclipse. Most of those people wear Japanese attire, but the man in the rickshaw, the policeman, and the child accompanying his father wear western clothes. Also, there is a man who is about to take a picture with a camera on a tripod stand. You can see what the society of that era was like.
Translation by: Hiroko Tsuzuki and Ramsey Lundock (Public Relations Center, NAOJ)
(Note 1) “Nishiki-e” referees to this traditional Japanese style of multi-color printing using wood-blocks. Back
(Note 2) In addition to the standard Gregorian calendar, Japan uses a reign era calendar. The different eras are defined by changes in the Japanese government, and accompanied by changes in Japanese society. Back
(Note 3) The paragraphs in the picture say that the 1786 eclipse was a total solar eclipse. But, actually it was an annular eclipse, so the sentences in the picture are wrong. Back
Image Data
| Date Created | 1887 (Meiji Era 20) |
|---|---|
| Author | Shinkichi Kobayashi |
| Credit | Collection of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan |