ESA: Supernova much younger than thought

PARIS, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The European Space Agency says recent data has uncovered evidence that helps identify one of the earliest stellar explosions recorded by humans.

Recent observations from the ESA's XMM-Newton Observatory and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory show the supernova remnant "RCW 86" is much younger than previously thought and apparently coincides with a supernova observed by Chinese astronomers in 185 A.D.

The lead author of the study, Jacco Vink of the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, and study co-author Aya Bamba of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research in Japan, say they now calculate the remnant is about 2,000 years old. Previously astronomers estimated an age of 10,000 years.

The Paris-based ESA said the younger age may explain an astronomical event observed in 185 A.D., by the Chinese astronomers and possibly the Romans, both of whom recorded the appearance of a new bright star.

"Astronomers are used to referencing results from 5 or 10 years ago, so it's remarkable that we can build upon work from nearly 2,000 years ago," said Vink.

The study describing the results appeared in the Sept. 1 issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters