4. A Matching

The observations logged in the Diaries reflect the aims and distinctive techniques of Babylonian astronomy. To corroborate the date historians ascribe to an observation, the Babylonian format must first be converted into modern terms, which can then be compared to a computer-generated representation of the sky. A close match between the computation and the Babylonian record indicates the assigned date is valid.

The analysis assumes that the linguistic translations of the cuneiform texts are accurate, and only examines the astronomical evidence.