The Maya Star-Jaguar Inscription at Ek’ Balam and the Chinese Records of Comet C/770 K1

Abstract The 96 Glyphs Mural at Ek’ Balam (Star-Jaguar), in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, records the arrival of Chak Jutuuw Chan Ek’ on 770 April 7 and the enthronement of Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’ 49 days later, on 770 May 26. Chinese historical records dated to the same day report comet C/770 K1 with a tail length of about 30 ∘ –50 ∘ . Hasegawa’s reconstructed orbit is projected onto the local sky at Ek’ Balam. On May 26, the cometary head reaches altitudes of 3 . ° 4 at 04:30, 8 . ° 8 at 05:00, and 11 . ° 5 at sunrise near 05:16 local solar time. The reported tail length and the low relief of northern Yucatán favor naked-eye visibility. This coincidence between the enthronement and the Chinese records merits further epigraphic and astronomical investigation to establish or reject a historical connection.