At the end of April 1006 a new star blazed in the constellation Lupus, in the southern sky, becoming the brightest stellar event in recorded history, with an apparent magnitude of about minus 7.5, brighter than Venus and visible in daylight for weeks. It was seen in Egypt, where the astrologer Ali ibn Ridwan described it as a quarter of the Moon's brightness, in Iraq, China, Japan, and Europe, including the monks of St Gallen in Switzerland. It was a type Ia supernova some 7,200 light years away. Its remnant was identified in radio waves in 1965. The star faded over about three years.
Before and after
- 11th centuryConstruction of Chora Church
- from 1005 to 1797Republic of Genoa
- 1006Construction of Gonbad-e Qabus
- 1006SN 1006
- 1006The brightest supernova in recorded history appears
- from 1007 to 1090Construction of Qal'at Bani Hammad
- c. 1010Origins of Hanoi
- 1010Construction of Prahadisvarar Temple
- c. 1010sMurasaki Shikibu writes The Tale of Genji
More in Universe & space
- 1054SN 1054
- from c. 1420s to 1440sFounding of Ulugh Beg Observatory
- 7 January 1610Discovery of Io
- 25 March 1655Discovery of Titan
- 13 March 1781Discovery of Uranus
- 23 September 1846Discovery of Neptune
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 11th century.