In this week's blog, we discussed how the 1054 Supernova was recorded by Japanese, Chinese and Native American astronomers-but not, apparently, by Europeans. Why?
One theory is that bad weather prevented any observations in Europe. However, the supernova was visible for two years, too long for bad weather. Arab astronomers who lived in hotter and drier climates also did not mention it, except for one possible brief reference.
Another very popular "Dark Age" theory claims that knowledge of astronomy had so decayed in 11th century Europe that the Church suppressed records of the observance in the belief that everything in the sky was eternal and should be recorded as such. But the Arabs, who had a very good knowledge of astronomy, did not make any great note of the 1054 Supernova, either. Also, European observers mentioned the appearance of the Supernova in the constellation Scorpio in 1006, possibly the brightest in recorded history. In 1066, the Bayeux Tapestry recorded a sighting of Halley's Comet. They did record such things all of the time, so why not the 1054 Supernova?
A third theory connects the "guest star" to the rift between Rome and Constantinople that resulted in separate Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. People were too busy to record such an omen that summer, so goes the theory. But it ignores the lack of Arab Muslim sources and the fact that two years is a long time to ignore a heavenly sign.
A third theory suggests that two Italian records did, in fact, record a "spectacular star" in 1054, but in April (two months before the Chinese sources). They also place it in the constellation Gemini and tie it to the death of Pope Leo IX that month. Annals at Tullamore may also record a brief European observation in England.
One strange theory even claims that the Chinese and Japanese sighting was a close pass by a planetoid not a supernova.
We should approach the past with caution. The Chinese and Japanese sources appear to be reliable because they give precise dates for the 1054 Supernova's appearance and duration. But that doesn't make them accurate. The Chacoan pictographs seem clear-cut, but are actually highly symbolic, and the 1054 Supernova interpretation of them is highly controversial.
The 11th century supernovae show us that people back then didn't think like each other, even when it came to worldwide events. But we should always remind ourselves that they didn't think like us, either, whenever we interpret what they left behind.
