Science New image captures a supernova first observed in the year 185

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A new telescope image has shed light on the ghostly remains of the first recorded supernova.

More than 1,800 years ago, in the year 185, Chinese astronomers recorded what they called a "guest star" after a bright new light appeared in the night sky. This brightness resulted when a star exploded some 8,000 light-years away, between the constellations of Circinus and Centaurus, into a supernova; the bright event was visible for eight months before fading from view to the naked eye.

Known today as SN 185, it is considered the first recorded supernova in history.

Now, all that remains is a ring of debris called RCW 86.

A new image was taken recently of these remnants using the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in northern Chile.

Wispy strands mark the glowing remains of the supernova, appearing to float like clouds away from the ancient explosion. The rest of the wide field image is filled with stars. The new image is helping astronomers understand how supernovas evolve.

But researchers didn't always know that SN 185 and RCW 86 were the same thing.

 
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