Cosmic 8 Ball
May 1st 2011 07:01
Category: Cosmic Objects
Image of SN 1572 (Left of image) remnant using superimposed X-ray and infrared images obtained with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and Spitzer telescope
When Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe chronicled the demise of a star turned supernova in 1572.
The only account on the event were eye witness written documents , no other means of seeing the even other than by eye existed at the time. The telescope had not been officially invented until the 1600s. SN 1572 is located in the Constellation of Cassiopeia.
In his publication Astronomiae instauratae progymnasmata, Brahe wrote an account that while taking a early evening stroll on November 11th in 1572, "I suddenly and unexpectedly beheld near the zenith an unaccustomed star with a bright radiant light." He goes on to describe how it rivaled planet Venus in brilliance.
There were several accounts that the supernova of 1572 could be seen during the daylight hours.
Since there is no account of the supernova as it may have looked through a telescope, modern day science may perhaps give us an insight at what may have caused to the star to suddenly explode.
Supernovas spectacles occur either when a single massive star becomes unstable and collapses on itself.
Xray image of SN 1572
Another scenario is when a white dwarf accumulates too much material from a close companion star and spontaneously self-destructs tearing the star apart. The general consensus is that the star’s explosion was caused by a near-by companion star.
Modern day forensic science is piecing together what happened to The Cas A remnant.
After a lot of detective work by researchers they found a Sun-like star (named Tycho G). Using a combination of ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope. They found the companion star travelling at three times faster than the surrounding stars. The explosion of the supernova shot the companion star like a billiard ball at incredible speed.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Is there any evidence that the Cosmic 8 Ball has had other encounters since it's journey began?
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
Hi S.L.
I don’t think were in any danger from being side pocketed.
The rouge star has long gone as the light from that region of the sky takes centuries to reach us.
Given the distances the star has not encountered any major collisions nothing of any note so far.