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The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observed a \"nova\", or new star, that appeare

ID: 1838822 • Letter: T

Question

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe observed a "nova", or new star, that appeared in the sky in November 1572. this was the first modern observation of an exploding star called a supernova. Tycho's exploding star is called SN 1572 and was located 3 kiloparsecs (kpc) away from Earth. The most famous recent supernova, SN 1987 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (52 kpc away), was first seen on Earth in February 1987. In approximately what years did each of the two stars actually explode? Which star exploded first?

Explanation / Answer

1 kpc = 3662 Lyrs , the distance traveled by light

SN1572 is located 3 pkc from earth

light from SN 1572 will take 3662*3 = 10986 yrs to reach earth

Its explosion has occured   = 1572 AD -10986 = 9414 BC

SN1987 is located 52 kpc away = 190424 Lyrs

light from SN1987 will take 190424 yrs to reach earth

its explosion occured in 1987AD - 190424 = 188437 BC

SN1987 has exploded first.

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