Earliest Datable Records of Aurora-like Phenomena in the Astronomical   Diaries from Babylonia
  The Astronomical Diaries from Babylonia (ADB) are an excellent source of information of natural phenomena, including astronomical ones, in pre-Christ era because it contains the record of highly continuous and systematic observations. In this article we present results of a survey of aurora-like phenomena in ADB, spanning from BCE 652 to BCE 61. We have found 9 records of aurora-like phenomena. Philological and scientific examinations suggest 5 of them can be considered as likely candidate for aurora observations. They provide unique information about the solar and aurora activities in the first millennium BCE. 
Hisashi Hayakawa, Yasuyuki Mitsuma, Yusuke Ebihara, Akito Davis   Kawamura, Hiroko Miyahara, Harufumi Tamazawa, Hiroaki Isobe
astro-ph.SR physics.hist-ph physics.space-ph