Observers caught these stars going supernova
Massive stellar explosions created these luminous, expanding shells of gas and dust
STELLAR SHREDS Thirty years ago, astronomers witnessed a nearby stellar explosion (illustrated above), but it wasn’t the first. Humanity has been recording local supernovas for nearly two millennia.
ALMA (ESO, NAOJ, NRAO), Alexandra Angelich (NRAO, AUI, NSF)
In A.D. 185, Chinese records note the appearance of a “guest star” that then faded away over the span of several months. In 1572, astronomer Tycho Brahe and many others watched as a previously unknown star in the constellation Cassiopeia blasted out gobs of light and then eventually disappeared. And 30 years ago, the world witnessed a similar blaze of light from a small galaxy that orbits the Milky Way. In each case, humankind stood witness to a supernova — an exploding star — within or relatively close to our galaxy (representative border in gray, below).
Here’s a map of six supernovas directly seen by human eyes throughout history, and one nearby explosion that went unnoticed. Some were type 1a supernovas, the detonation of a stellar core left behind after a star releases its gas into space. Others were triggered when a star at least eight times as massive as the sun blows itself apart.
Tap images below map for details
11,000 light-years away
It should have been observed around 1680, but there are no definitive records. Stellar dust clouds might have blocked Earth’s view of the explosion.
9,000 light-years away
First observed: 1572
This explosion was named after astronomer Tycho Brahe, who studied it extensively.
6,500 light-years away
First observed: 1054
Stargazers in China, Japan and elsewhere witnessed the supernova. It is home to a powerful pulsar.
20,000 light-years away
First observed: 1604
Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, it is the most recent supernova witnessed in the Milky Way.
7,200 light-years away
First observed: 1006
It was seen around the world as probably the brightest stellar event on record, about 15 times as bright as Venus.
9,100 light-years away
First observed: 185
Chinese historians recorded it in the book Hou Hanshu as a “guest star” with “scintillating, variegated colors.”
166,000 light-years away
First observed: 1987
The last supernova bright enough to be directly seen exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a Milky Way satellite.
C. Crockett. 30 years later, supernova 1987A is still sharing secrets. Science News. Vol. 191, February 18, 2017, p. 20.
C. Crockett. Peeks into early life of supernovas show how to blow up a star. Science News. Vol. 187, June 27, 2015, p. 9.
A. Grant. While exploding, supernovas not spherical. Science News. Vol. 185, March 22, 2014, p. 14.
A. Grant. Supernova is a dust factory. Science News. Vol. 185, February 8, 2014, p. 7.
