Aurorae observed by Giuseppe Toaldo in Padua (1766–1797)

• Main Authors: Domínguez-Castro Fernando, Vaquero José Manuel, Bertolin Chiara, Gallego María Cruz, De la Guía Cristina, Camuffo Dario
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2016-01-01
• Series: Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
• Subjects: Aurora; Historical records; Solar Activity; Padua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2016016

A record is presented of the auroral observations made by Giuseppe Toaldo and his assistant Vincenzo Chiminello in Padua, Italy, in the second half of the 18th century. The historical sources consulted include the original manuscripts containing the meteorological records made by those two observers. A small catalogue is constructed with the 148 auroral observations. The characteristics of these observations are analysed. The main feature of this data set is that the annual number of auroral observations presents an intense peak at around 1779 and an abrupt decline at around 1790.