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

MessageToEagle.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.

This supernova appeared in the southern constellation of Lupus and in fact, was the brightest recorded star ever to appear in the night sky.

N 1006 is located about 7,000 light years from Earth.

This explosion was witnessed from Earth over a millennium ago. Its presence was noted by astronomers in China, Japan, Europe, and the Arab world, who all documented 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 were able to launch instruments and detectors above Earth’s atmosphere to observe the universe in wavelengths that are blocked from the ground, including X-rays.

See also:

Ancient Text Reveals Sighting Of SN 1006 – Brightest Supernova Ever Observed

SN 1006 was one of the faintest X-ray sources detected by the first generation of X-ray satellites.

A wonderful, new image of SN 1006 from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals this supernova remnant in superb detail.

This image provides new insight into the nature of SN 1006, which is 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 in order to set the Emprire’s mind at rest.”

The emperor approved Keming’s suggestion and promoted Keming as well. Chinese astrologer carefully watched the star for 3 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 half.

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