"So how did the guest star fit into this
dark-sky puzzle?
The guest star was no star at all. It was
the light of Supernova 1054 - that long-
ago explosion in space.
And the Crab Nebula is the starry remains
of Supernova 1054."
In another excellent picture book, James Gladstone and Yaara Eshet explore supernovas and nebulas. One stands out for them - Supernova 1054 - a distant light seen in the morning sky so many years ago. It just suddenly appeared. People in China were in awe of its light and wondered if others could see it as they did. People around the world were seeing the same light!
It faded, leaving only memories. Had it been possible to see it more clearly then, astronomers would have discovered a nebula which was growing where the light had once been. It took centuries before the telescope allowed astronomers to see what was really there. That nebula was named the Crab Nebula and it called the same today.
As happens, scientists have continued to learn more and more.
"Many years later, scientists learned that some huge
stars explode. They called these star blasts supernovas.
After a blast, a supernova leaves behind starry remains that,
with time, spread farther throughout space."
That distant light seen so long ago was the light of Supernova 1054, and the Crab Nebula is the starry remains that continue to grow today. Allowing young readers a look at one of the mysteries of the universe, this book's accessible text and gorgeous illustrations detail the spread of a supernova through varying shades of blue skies. Back matter closes the book with a clear explanation of supernovas and their resulting nebulas.
Look up!
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