Throughout history, cultures all over the world have witnessed supernovae. The first physical evidence of supernovae was found in a stone in the Egyptian desert. It is called Hypatia, and through experimentation, scientists have discovered that it came from a type la supernova. The first written report on supernovae came from Chinese astronomers in 185 A.D. The supernova was described as a “guest star”; which remained in the sky for eight months. Scientists have proved this was a supernova because they compiled multiple X-ray images and found traces of past interstellar gas heated to millions of degrees along with bits of debris often associated with supernovae (SNRs).

 

The First Nations peoples have many stories of how supernovae were related to them being children of the stars; they were often celebrated in religious circumstances. They had stories of where their ancestors may have seen supernovae with their bare eyes. However because it is so rare to see even a glimpse of a supernova from Earth, we can monitor and find supernovae with the use of telescopes and satellites.