Notes on translations of the East Asian records relating to the supernova of AD 1054
Abstract
The East Asian records of the ‘guest star’ of 1054 that produced the Crab Nebula have been re-evaluated more than once during the past decade. Although some of the apparent inconsistencies in the records have now been addressed, doubts about the reported position of the supernova still persist. The published translations of the records, moreover, are still unsatisfactory in certain respects. Here I offer corrections to the translations of several records, present a previously-unreported contemporaneous account of the guest star, and suggest an explanation of why the Song Dynasty astronomers erroneously placed SN 1054 southeast of ζ Tau.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage
- Pub Date:
- June 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006JAHH....9...77P
- Keywords:
-
- Crab Nebula;
- supernova;
- SN1054;
- East Asia;
- China;
- Song Dynasty;
- history of astronomy