Editorial, CNBC Indonesia
Tech
Thursday, 02/22/2024 20:45 IWST
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The brightest supernova phenomenon ever seen on Earth occurred a few days before Ramadan. The note about the “explosion of starlight” was written by a Muslim scientist named Ali Ibn Ridwan, more than 1,000 years ago.
The brightest and most intense supernova occurred in 1006 AD. The light was so bright that it was visible from all over the world, from Europe to China.
Ali Ibn Ridwan, an 18 year old Egyptian youth, wrote the most detailed account of this astronomical event. In fact, modern astronomers use Ridwan’s notes to analyze the phenomenon called Supernova 1006.
Ridwan’s full name is Abu ‘l Hasan Ali ibn Ridwan Al-Misri. He was famous as a doctor and astronomer who wrote diligently. In 1006, Ridwan had just started medical school. However, he has long been interested in the world of astrology and astronomy.
Ridwan called Supernova 1006 a “new star.” In his observations, the supernova began to appear from Earth on 17 Shaban 396 AH or 30 April 1006. Its light was visible throughout the summer. However, around mid-August its position was too close to the Sun and could only be observed during the day, making it difficult to see.
Ridwan’s observations about supernovas are written in his book which comments on them Tetrabiblos Ptolemy’s works.
“I will describe an event that I witnessed at the beginning of my study period. This phenomenon appeared in [area] constellation Scorpio, opposite the Sun. At that time, the Sun was 15 degrees from Taurus and the phenomenon was 15 degrees from Scorpio. “This phenomenon is a large circle, about 2.5 to 3 times larger than Venus,” he said.
He said that the sky at that time was shining brightly because of the light from the supernova. The light intensity is comparable to a quarter of the Moon’s light. Its position is fixed and then moves every day along with its constellation until the Sun is in sextile position (60 degrees) with it in Virgo.
“At that time, [fenomena tersebut] disappeared immediately.”
Ridwan then explained the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets in detail, including their positions in degrees and minutes in each constellation sector when the first supernova appeared. Its detailed records help modern astronomers determine when SN 1006 appeared and determine its location in the sky.
New scientists named the “new star” phenomenon witnessed by Ridwan as a supernova thousands of years after he died. A supernova is a large explosion that marks the death of a star.
Apart from Ridwan, the 1006 supernova event was also recorded by other observers from various parts of the Earth. Monks in Switzerland wrote, “This phenomenon sometimes diminishes, sometimes fades and sometimes disappears.”
Chinese astronomical records state that the supernova is located east of the constellation Lupus, south of Di, and one degree west of Centaurus. According to them, the light of this phenomenon is equivalent to half the intensity of the Moon’s glow.
From various records, modern astronomers conclude that SN 1006 was visible for 4 months before being blocked by sunlight. About 7 months later, the same phenomenon was seen in the dawn sky between November 24 and December 22, 1107.
Watch the video below:
RI’s Challenge to Attract Data Center Investment to Become the Foundation of the Digital Economy
(to/the)
2024-02-22 13:45:00
#Brightest #Supernova #Appears #Ahead #Ramadan
