Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 7/11/2005

Question
Who discovered the first type II supernovae?  Where was it located?  Could you give me some background information on this discovery?  I would really appreciate it if you can make this quick.  THank you.

Answer
Hi,
The first "observed" (i use the quotes because the observer just saw it and did not classify it as such) type-II supernova was in AD 1064. It was recorded by the chinese. It remained so bright it could be seen indaytime for about 20 days and at night for over 600 days.
THAT was what is known as the CRAB NEBULA today.

Type 2 supernovas are the most powerful ones, and where most of teh nucleosynthesis beyond iron happens.
Here are two comprehensive web sites for you to get info on.
I am giving these links as much more info can ge obtained by you in neatly arranged form. Including info on the last popular type-2 near us on our galactic fringes in the large magellanic cloud, inside the TARANTULA nebula. Yes I am talking about the explosion of the star SANDULEAK-A better known as SUPERNOVA SN1987-A.
  It was detected even before it was seen, by the detection of the nuetrino burst preceeding the actual visual blast, by detectors deep within the earth's crust, in mines, doing research on another unrelated mysteries..the decay of natural matter by neutron decay.
 Scientists just triangulated back to the source, and saw the supernova burst emerging.

The theoretical modelling of supernovas was done as early as 1930 by Fritz Zwicky, Walter Baade, and Rudolph Minkowski.

The links:-
1 - http://www.answers.com/topic/supernova
2 - this has many interesting links within links with many images.
http://www.solstation.com/x-objects/crab-neb.htm

Jayen