On This Day In History: Supernova Observed In Constellation Lupus By Chinese And Egyptians – On May 1, 1006 AD

AncientPages.com - When the object we now call SN 1006 first appeared on May 1, 1006 AD, it was far brighter than Venus and visible during the daytime for weeks.

Chandra's image of SN 1006. Credits: Chandra/Smithsonian Institute

This supernova appeared in Lupus' southern constellation and was the brightest recorded star ever in the night sky.

SN 1006 - located about 7,000 light-years from Earth - was probably the brightest stellar event in recorded history. This explosion was witnessed from Earth over a millennium ago. Astronomers noted its presence in China, Japan, Europe, and the Arab world, documenting this spectacular phenomenon.

Egyptian physician, astronomer, and astrologer Ali ibn Ridwan gave the brightness of this star as one-quarter the brightness of the Moon.

With the advent of the Space Age in the 1960s, scientists could launch instruments and detectors above Earth's atmosphere to observe the universe in wavelengths blocked from the ground, including X-rays.

A fabulous new image of SN 1006 from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals this supernova remnant in superb detail. It provides unique insight into the remnant of a so-called Type Ia supernova.

One of the most significant observations comes from the Benedictine monastery at St. Gallen in Switzerland.

Their records state:

"AD 1006. A new star of unusual size appeared; it was glittering in aspect and dazzling the eyes, causing alarm. In a wonderful manner, it was sometimes contracted, sometimes spread out, and moreover, sometimes extinguished. Nevertheless, it was seen for three months in the extreme limits of the south, beyond all the constellations, which are visible in the sky" (Annales Sangallenses Maiores).

In China, this star's appearance caused widespread alarm. Astrologer Zhou Keming at the Imperial Astronomical Bureau said as follows:

"I heard that people inside and outside the court were quite disturbed about it," he reported. "I humbly suggest that the civil and military officials be permitted  to celebrate to set the Empire's mind at rest."

The emperor approved Keming's suggestion and promoted Keming as well. Chinese astrologers watched the star for three months before it became lost in the Sun's glare.

Surprisingly, they did even more.

According to the astronomical treatise in the official history of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), imperial sky watchers continued the observations. At first, they recovered the fading star in December and continuously monitored the object for about a year and a half.

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