The Case of the Missing Supernova
Explanation:
Would you notice a second Moon in the sky?
About 700 years ago, light from a
tremendous explosion reached Earth
that should have appeared almost
as bright as a full Moon.
The bright spot should have lasted for weeks,
yet no notation of such an occurrence
has been found in historical records.
The mystery was uncovered by
Wan Chen and
Neil Gehrels
(
NASA/GSFC) when studying the source of
radioactive elements toward the
Vela supernova remnant.
They deduced that an explosion
much younger and closer than the
supernova that caused
Vela must have occurred, and even computed
explosion characteristics from the amounts of
radioactive elements present.
They calculate that GRO/RX J0852 should
have dazzled
medieval stargazers.
Perhaps people were too busy,
surviving records are too incomplete,
or the explosion was somehow too dim.
The
above picture of GRO/RX J0852 was taken in
gamma-ray light with the
Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory
and is shown in false-color.
Astronomers and historians continue to contemplate the clues.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
