Tag

Historical Observation

All articles tagged with #historical observation

science1 year ago•5 min saved

"Medieval Nova Set to Dazzle Sky in Rare Celestial Event"

The double star system T Coronae Borealis, first recorded in 1217, is set to flare up and become visible in Earth's night sky between now and September. This rare nova event, occurring roughly every 80 years, will make the star as bright as Polaris for about a week. The phenomenon results from a violent interaction between a white dwarf and a red giant, causing a thermonuclear reaction. The last such event was observed in 1946, and the upcoming flare is expected to reach a magnitude of +2.

via Ancient Origins|

#astronomy #binary-star-system #historical-observation

astronomy2 years ago•5 min saved

Unique Supernova Remnant Unearthed by Amateur Astronomer

Amateur astronomer Dana Patchick discovered a unique supernova remnant, named PA 30, in the constellation of Cassiopeia. Initially thought to be a planetary nebula, professional astronomers later realized it was the remnant of a supernova observed in 1181. This supernova, known as SN 1181, is one of less than a dozen suspected supernovae in recorded history prior to modern astronomy. Further study revealed that PA 30 is an exceptionally rare type of supernova known as a SN Type Iax, caused by the merger of two white dwarfs. Historical records and observations support the association of PA 30 with SN 1181, making it the fifth supernova remnant positively associated with an observation of a supernova in our galaxy.

via Phys.org|

#amateur-astronomer #astronomy #historical-observation