One Thousand Years Ago, the Moon Disappeared, Could it Happen Again?

Posted: April 26, 2022 12:32 pm

In 1110 C.E., during the reign of King Henry I, records show that the moon disappeared from the sky over England. An eyewitness report recorded in the Peterborough Chronicle states that on May 5th, 1110, the moon completely vanished from the sky. According to the witness, the moon appeared as it usually would. Little by little, its customary glow was diminished to the point that it was “…so completely extinguished withal, that neither light, nor orb, nor anything at all of it was seen.”

Eclipse, You Say!

The automatic reaction is to state that an eclipse had occurred and that people of the time were unfamiliar with the phenomenon. However, astronomers have discussed the well-known case many times since it happened. There has been a general agreement that the instance of the ‘black’ eclipse was unusual. The fact that the moon vanished utterly, even to the point of the familiar shadowy golden glow being absent, has confused scientists for centuries. Apparently, this was more than just an eclipse.

Other Environmental Variables

It has been apparent to scientists for decades that some other environmental phenomenon must have been an active contributor in making the moon disappear. But, what could obscure the moon’s light so thoroughly and effectively? Clouds would have been familiar to the general public even in 1110 C.E. Smoke dense enough to block out the moon would require a massive wildfire. People would have been aware of such a large conflagration. What other event could have darkened the sky enough to blot out even an eclipsed moon totally? Modern-day scientists believe they have discovered the answer.

The Earth Blocked Out the Moon’s Light

The earth passing between the sun and moon to varying degrees causes the moon’s phases. On occasion, the earth entirely blocks the sun’s light from reaching the moon. The result is a lunar eclipse. Such events are not particularly rare. In the 20-year period around the black eclipse event, no fewer than seven lunar eclipses would have been observable in England. So, what was different about this particular eclipse? In 2020, scientists found the first clue to the unusual event. Ironically, the earth blocked out the eclipse!

The Gateway to Hell

In 1104, the Hekla Volcano in Iceland, known as The Gateway to Hell, erupted. Ice core samples from Antarctica show that millions of tons of sulfur-rich particles were ejected from within the earth to the stratosphere. The particles circled the globe for years before eventually dropping from the sky and returning to the surface.

For several years geologists and vulcanologists credited the Hekla eruption with contributing to the black eclipse. Further research by scientists at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, concluded that the Hekla eruption could not have contributed to the black eclipse. New theories about age fluctuations in Antarctic ice core sampling and the time gap between Hekla and the black eclipse event ruled out their connection. But, the idea that an eruption could have contributed to the eclipse event set investigators on the path to a new discovery.

Finding Other Volcanic Events

Researchers started a new hunt for volcanic activity closer to the black eclipse event. Knowing that it occurred in 1110, they searched for volcanic eruptions that had occurred just a few years prior. Researchers in Greenland had discovered core samples with appropriate sulfur traces dating around 1108 – 1109.

Further investigation showed similar traces in Antarctic core samples. Science had established a time frame for the event. Now, the job was to find a large volcanic eruption to produce the proper volume of material to blanket the earth within the appropriate time window. It is not surprising that such a volcanic event did exist.

Mount Asama

In 1108, Mt.Asama in Japan erupted for several months. A more significant event than an eruption in 1783 sent thousands of tons of debris into the atmosphere. Eyewitness accounts describe a fire at the top of the mountain and thick layers of ash on the town. Ash destroyed crops, and rice fields were unfit for cultivation. It was described as a “strange and rare thing.”

Effects of the Asama Eruption

The immense volume of debris in the atmosphere could have been responsible for the black eclipse and climatic troubles across the European continent. Sulfates are light-reflecting minerals. Volcanoes eject tons of sulfates into the atmosphere. As a result of the Asama eruption, tree ring records for 1108 and 1109 show a colder than average year. Temperatures for the Northern Hemisphere were approximately 1 degree Celsius lower than average. Researchers also found records of unusual weather, crop failure, and famine across Europe between 1108 and 1110.

Mt. Asama and the Black Eclipse

It is impossible to conclusively attribute the event known as the black eclipse in 1110 to the eruption of Mt. Asama in 1108. Nor can science attribute unusual weather, a cooling climate, and famine in Europe to the volcano. Due to the time that has passed, researchers can only make some general assumptions. Based on the historical record and our understanding of atmospheric patterns, it is likely that the eruption of Mt. Asama caused the climate in Europe to vary significantly. It is also probable that the volcanic debris in the atmosphere contributed to the moon’s disappearance. And, there is no reason to believe that both events could not happen again.

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