Supernova is a stellar explosion that briefly outshines an entire galaxy. The amount of energy that is radiated is as much as the Sun or any ordinary star is expected to emit over its entire lifespan but over a brief burst. The supernova fades from view over a period of weeks or months.
Earliest observation and discovery
The earliest recorded supernova was SN 185, which was viewed by Chinese astronomers in 185 AD. SN 1006 is the brightest recorded supernova in human history. Earlier, supernovae were considered as a brighter form of novae. Walter Baade and Fritz Zwicky at Mount Wilson Observatory did early work on what was originally believed to be simply a new category of novae. The term “super-novae” was first used during 1931 lectures held at Caltech by this pair. The hyphen had been lost and the modern name was in use by 1938.
Rare events
Supernova is a relatively rare event within a galaxy, occurring about thrice in a century in the Milky Way. Supernova cannot be predicted with any meaningful accuracy and must be observed in progress. Thus, both amateurs and professionals conduct extensive supernova searching. Supernova searches fall mainly into two classes: those searches focussed on relatively nearby events and those looking for explosions farther away.
Format
Supernova discoveries are reported to the IAU’s Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. The name of a supernova is in the following format: SN followed by the year of discovery, suffixed with a one or two-letter designation.
Compiled by: Madhurani Chavan