The Historical Supernovae

The Historical Supernovae

Annotation This book reviews both the historical observations of supernovae (SN) seen in our Galaxy over the last two millennia and recorded in East Asia (China, Japan and Korea), Europe and the Arabic dominions, together with modern observations of the remnants of these supernovae. Introductory chaptersprovide background information about the historical observations and our modern understanding of supernovae and novae, and of supernova remnants (SNRs) and pulsars. Subsequent chapters discuss the historical observations of the well defined historical SN and modern observations of their remnants. These chapters cover Kepler's SN of AD1604, Tycho's SNe of AD1572, the SN of AD1181, the SN of AD1054 which produced the well known Crab Nebula, and the especially bright SN of AD1006. One chapter discusses the young SNR Cassiopeia A, and the proposed sighting of its SN in AD1680 by Flamsteed. Earlier but less certain supernovae of the preceding millennium chronicled in China are also discussed, along with their possible remnants. Other less certain observations of historical SN, and the future potential for additional historical observations, are briefly discussed. This book alsoincludes as an appendix an up-to-date catalogue of over two hundred known Galactic SNRs.

This book investigates the question of how matter has evolved since its origin in the Big Bang, from the cosmological synthesis of hydrogen and helium to the generation of the complex set of nuclei that comprise our world and our selves. A central theme is the evolution of gravitationally contained thermonuclear reactors, otherwise known as stars. Our current understanding is presented systematically and quantitatively, by combining simple analytic models with new state-of-the-art computer simulations. The narrative begins with the clues (primarily the solar system abundance pattern), the constraining physics (primarily nuclear and particle physics), and the thermonuclear burning in the Big Bang itself. It continues with a step-by-step description of how stars evolve by nuclear reactions, a critical investigation of supernova explosion mechanisms and the formation of neutron stars and of black holes, and an analysis of how such explosions appear to astronomers (illustrated by comparison with recent observations). It concludes with a synthesis of these ideas for galactic evolution, with implications for nucleosynthesis in the first generation of stars and for the solar system abundance pattern. Emphasis is given to questions that remain open, and to active research areas that bridge the disciplines of astronomy, cosmochemistry, physics, and planetary and space science. Extensive references are given.

This text, written by two leading experts, reviews the historical observations of supernova explosions in our Galaxy over the past two thousand years and discusses modern observations of the remnants of these explosions at radio and other wavelengths.

Astronomers believe that a supernova is a massive explosion signaling the death of a star, causing a cosmic recycling of the chemical elements and leaving behind a pulsar, black hole, or nothing at all. In an engaging story of the life cycles of stars, Laurence Marschall tells how early astronomers identified supernovae, and how later scientists came to their current understanding, piecing together observations and historical accounts to form a theory, which was tested by intensive study of SN 1987A, the brightest supernova since 1006. He has revised and updated The Supernova Story to include all the latest developments concerning SN 1987A, which astronomers still watch for possible aftershocks, as well as SN 1993J, the spectacular new event in the cosmic laboratory.

Astronomers believe that a supernova is a massive explosion signaling the death of a star, causing a cosmic recycling of the chemical elements and leaving behind a pulsar, black hole, or nothing at all. In an engaging story of the life cycles of stars, Laurence Marschall tells how early astronomers identified supernovae, and how later scientists came to their current understanding, piecing together observations and historical accounts to form a theory, which was tested by intensive study of SN 1987A, the brightest supernova since 1006. He has revised and updated The Supernova Story to include all the latest developments concerning SN 1987A, which astronomers still watch for possible aftershocks, as well as SN 1993J, the spectacular new event in the cosmic laboratory.

This revised 1985 edition tells the story of supernovae, capturing the flavour of ancient astronomy.