Ancient Supernova sheds light on cosmic mystery

1572 was a landmark year in the history of astronomy. A 'new star' became visible, its luminosity so intense that it could be seen even against the light of day. It was at this point that scientists realized that space was not immutable as had previously been believed. But till this point the type of supernova has never been properly classified.

But the beauty of our universe is that the optical print of this event is still available. It may be spread over 20 light years but using the sophisticated technology and spectroscopic techniques accessible to us today, it is possible to figure out where traces of this event are present and to rewind the clock to trace the sequence of activities that triggered it.

Ultimately, scientists think such studies will help us understand how stars are formed in universe, how they can be categorized and how they ultimately meet their deaths. It's fascinating to see the fireworks in the cosmos but there may be so much more than meets the eye.