SN 1054

SN 1054 was a supernova observed in 1054 whose expanding debris forms the Crab Nebula and whose collapsed stellar remnant is the Crab Pulsar.

Crab Nebula: A bright, expanding supernova remnant in the constellation Taurus, powered by the Crab Pulsar. It is the expanding debris left by SN 1054.
Core-collapse supernova: A stellar explosion triggered when a massive star's core collapses under gravity. SN 1054 is understood as a core-collapse explosion.
Chinese astronomical records: Historical Chinese documents describing observed celestial events, including transient stars and comets. They provide the clearest surviving accounts of SN 1054.
Pulsar astronomy: The study of pulsars and their signals as probes of stellar remnants, matter, and magnetic fields. The Crab Pulsar made the remnant a key object for observing pulsar behavior.
Crab Pulsar: A rapidly rotating neutron star at the center of the Crab Nebula that emits regular pulses of radiation. It is the compact stellar remnant associated with SN 1054.
Neutron star: An extremely dense stellar remnant composed mostly of neutrons, formed when a massive star's core collapses. The explosion left a neutron star that is observed as the Crab Pulsar.
Song dynasty: A Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 960 to 1279. The supernova was recorded during the Song dynasty.
Crab Nebula spectrum: The distribution of the Crab Nebula's emitted energy across electromagnetic wavelengths. Its broad spectrum reveals how the pulsar energizes surrounding material.
Chinese astronomy: The study and historical practice of observing and recording celestial phenomena in China. Chinese records preserve detailed observations of the supernova's appearance.
Pulsar: A rotating neutron star whose beams of electromagnetic radiation sweep across Earth at regular intervals. The Crab Pulsar reveals the compact remnant through periodic emissions.

Linked from 2 pages