Evidence for a White-light Flare on 10 September 1886

TL;DR

This paper provides historical evidence of a rare white-light solar flare observed on 10 September 1886, utilizing original logbook data from an amateur astronomer, contributing to the limited record of such events.

Contribution

It is the first detailed analysis of the 1886 white-light flare using original observational logs, confirming its occurrence as one of the few documented events.

Findings

Confirmed the 1886 white-light flare occurrence

Utilized original logbook data for historical validation

Contributed to the limited historical record of white-light flares

Abstract

We present evidence for the occurrence of a white-light flare on 10 September 1886. It represents the third of such rare events reported in the history of astronomy. The flare was mentioned by Valderrama (1886, L'Astronomie 5, 388). In this article we have used the original logbook of the observer, J. Valderrama y Aguilar, an amateur astronomer that lived in Madrid and Santa Cruz de Tenerife at that time.