The History of Song's Treatise on Astronomy records "In the fifth month of the first year of Zhihe, it appeared in the east at dawn, guarding Tianguan; by day it was like Venus, with rays shooting out in four directions, reddish-white, visible for twenty-three days." The guest star was visible by day for 23 days and by night for 643 days, outshining Venus. It was confirmed in modern times to be the Crab Nebula (M1), whose center is a pulsar.
Account
The History of Song's Treatise on Astronomy records: "In the fifth month of the first year of Zhihe, it appeared in the east at dawn, guarding Tianguan; by day it was like Venus, with rays shooting out in four directions, reddish-white, visible for twenty-three days." The guest star was visible by day for 23 days and by night for 643 days, outshining Venus. It was confirmed in modern times to be the Crab Nebula (M1), whose center is a pulsar. The Chinese record predates comparable European records by nearly 600 years.
Sources
- History of Song, "Treatise on Astronomy"
- Song Huiyao Jigao
- modern Crab Nebula pulsar research