Li Fan (Han dynasty) explained

Li Fan was a Chinese astronomer during the Han dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD).

He noticed that the Moon does not move uniformly through its phases by using background stars as reference. In 85 Li Fan and Bian Xin were tasked by Emperor Zhang to resolve inaccuracies in the Taichu calendar.[1] [2] He is also known to have worked with inflow clepsydras as opposed to earlier, typically less accurate outflow clepsydras.[3]

The measurements of synodic periods of the planets given in the following table are attributed to him.[4]

Comparison of Li Fan's values for the synodic periods of the planets!Planet!True value (days)!Li Fan's value (days)
Mercury115.877115.881
Venus583.921584.024
Mars779.936779.532
Jupiter398.884398.846
Saturn378.092378.059
An impact crater that is located at the Phaethontis quadrangle, Mars, 47.2°S Latitude and 153.2°W Longitude was named in his honor. The diameter of the impact crater is approximately 104.8 km.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Crespigny, Rafe de. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23–220 AD). Brill. 2007. 9789047411840. Leiden. 410. en.
  2. Book: Cullen, Christopher. The Foundations of Celestial Reckoning: Three Ancient Chinese Astronomical Systems. 2017. Routledge. 9781138101173. 139, 377. en.
  3. Book: Needham, Joseph. Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 3, Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth. 1959. Cambridge University Press. 9780521058018. 320. en.
  4. Book: Needham, Joseph. Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 3, Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth. 1959. Cambridge University Press. 9780521058018. 401. en.

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