Palenque: Astronomical-Solar
Orientation of Pakal Tomb
Jaroslav Klokočník,
Astronomical Institute, Czech Aacdemy of Sciences
Ondřejov Observatory
CZ 251 65 Ondřejov , Czech Republic, EU, jklokocn@asu.cas.cz
www.asu.cas.cz/~jklokocn
Jan Kostelecký,
Research Institute for Geodesy, Topography and Cartography,
CZ 250 66 Zdiby 98, Czech Republic, EU, kost@fsv.cvut.cz
© Astronomický ústav AV ČR
mapa lokalit
Palenque: the Pyramid with Temple of Inscriptions
and Pakal tomb inside
Pacal
and his tomb in
Palenque
Reign
July 29, 615 – August 31, 683 GMT
Full name
K'inich Janaab' Pakal
Born
March 24, 603 GMT
Died
March 31, 683 GMT
Buried
Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque
Predecessor Sak K'uk‘
Successor K'inich Kan B'alam
GMT???
Example of failure of GMT to predict solar eclipse
DK D31 (F 52)
BB
MD = 1 412 848
GMT
Vol
Fuls
JD = 2 035 109 = 29.10. 859 ++
Nov 755
June 1275
20.9.963 +
Mucke Hermann, Meeus, Jean.
1983 Canon of solar eclipses
–2003 to +2526.
Astro. Buro, Hasenwartgasse,
Wien; 2nd ed.,
Vienna, 1983.
Interesting consequence
for “the end of the world 2012” is
that it is postponed from
Dec 21, 2012 to Dec 14, 2116.
• GMT means Goodman-Martínez-Thompson correlation (584 283 days),
• B&B means Böhm and Böhm correlation (622 261 day).
The difference
GMT-BB= 584 283 - 622 261 = - 37978 days
= 103.978 years
B&B:
Klokočník J, Kostelecký J, Böhm V, Böhm B, Vondrák J, Vítek F 2008
Correlation between the Mayan calendar and ours:
Astronomy helps to answer why the most popular correlation (GMT) is wrong,
Astronom. Nachrichten (AN) 329, 4, 426-436,
DOI 10.1002/asna.200710892a.200710892.
Pacal
and his tomb in
Palenque
Reign
July 22, 615 – August 24, 787 B&B
Full name
K'inich Janaab' Pakal
Born
March 17, 707 B&B
Died
March 24, 787 B&B
Buried
Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque
Predecessor Sak K'uk‘
Successor K'inich Kan B'alam
Palenque, Pacal tomb
astronomical-solar orientation
???
Stingl M 1971
Tajemství indiánských pyramid,
Orbis Praha, in Czech
J. Skidmore, priv. commun. 2000,
www.mesoweb.com/palenque/
resources/maps
(© 2000, E. Barnhart)
NGDC (National Geophysical Data Center)
NOAA Satellite and Information Service,
www.ngdc.noaa.gov
Precise compass
Directions ±1 degree
Calibration by
GPS baselines
cos a = - sin δ / cos φ
Measurements in Palenque
We measured with the precise compass
inside the crypt, around the sarcophagus,
but there was a problem: at the entrance to
the crypt, there
was a steel lintel which disturbed
measurements with the compass to a
distance ~1-1.5 m, so on this side of the
tomb the measurements with compass
were impossible.
Results of measurements:
Magnetic azimuth of the longer side of the sarcophagus is
21±1 deg (East of North)
Measurements in Palenque
Two baselines were deployed, as long as possible (e.g. between the Temple of the Cross
and the Plaza, and between the Palace and the Temple of the Inscriptions), to keep error of the
final astronomical azimuth computed from such measurements as low as possible.
The precision of coordinates with the handy GPS
was about ±10 m in 2003 and ~3-5 m in 2010.
Results of measurements:
Magnetic azimuth long side of 21±1 deg (East of North), after
the correction to the astronomical azimuth is 24±2 deg,
acounting for all sources of errors.
Conclusion:
Agreement with the expected value for the hypothetical
astronomical-solar-solstice orientation, 24-25 deg, is perfect.
Palenque, Pacal tomb
astronomical-solar orientation
!!!
24-25 degrees
Concluding remarks
We proved that Pakal’s tomb in the Mayan city of Palenque
has astronomical-solar orientation.
The long axis of the crypt is directed 24-25 degrees
east of astronomical north.
This axis is perpendicular to the direction of sunset at the summer solstice or
sunrise at the winter solstice.
The result has accuracy not worse than ±2 degrees.
Astronomický ústav AV ČR, Česká republika, EU
jklokocn@asu.cas.cz
www.asu.cas.cz/~jklokocn