The last supernova, or exploded star, that was viewable from Earth with the naked eye occurred in 1604 and appeared brighter than every other star in the sky for several months. But this star was more than 13,000 light years away.
In 1054 a supernova was observed and recorded by Chinese and Arab astronomers. For several months the star was visible during the day and at night it was written that you could read by the light of the supernova that, in it’s destruction, created the Crab Nebula.
NOW WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?
First some quick facts.
Speed of light: 186,282 miles per second.
Light year: distance light travels in one year: 5,879,000,000,000 miles
Well, can you read by the light of any star in the sky now? No. Sometimes, we can read by the light of the moon, which is the light reflected from the sun.
The supernova in 1054 was for several nights brighter than moon light.
The distance of the sun to the earth: 8 light minutes
The distance of the moon to the earth: less than 2 light seconds.
The distance of the supernova to the earth in 1054: more than 5000 light years. The light traveled 5000 light years and was still more powerful than the light of the moon, which was right next to us. That must have been one hell of an explosion.
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