A recent scholarly review of 12th and 14th-century Arabic manuscripts has uncovered previously uncatalogued records detailing two significant supernova events: those of 1006 AD and 1181 AD. This rediscovery significantly enriches the historical tapestry of human observation concerning transient celestial phenomena during the medieval Islamic Golden Age. The clarity within these newly examined accounts highlights the advanced astronomical understanding prevalent during that period, offering modern science a fresh perspective on these ancient stellar explosions.
The record pertaining to the 1181 AD supernova is found within a poem by the 12th-century poet Ibn Sanā' al-Mulk. This composition, written in homage to the formidable leader Saladin, speaks of the heavens being adorned with a novel star, or *najm*. Researchers suggest this literary marker places the sighting between 1181 and 1182, a time when Saladin and his brother were in Cairo. This particular stellar apparition, situated in the region of the modern constellation Cassiopeia, achieved a remarkable apparent magnitude estimated around 0, making it easily visible to the naked eye. The act of immortalizing such an event in verse underscores its profound impact on the contemporary collective awareness.
Focusing on the year 1006 AD, the historical documentation is further enhanced by the meticulous notes of the 14th-century chronicler Ahmad ibn 'Alī al-Maqrīzī. Al-Maqrīzī detailed the appearance of a *kawkab*, or star, distinguished by a luminous tail, whose brilliance rivaled that of the full Moon. This celestial visitor remained prominent for several months, coinciding with the period of the revolt led by Abū Rakwah. This description is consistent with Supernova 1006, an event so intensely bright that it was reportedly observable even in daylight. The persistence and intensity documented by Al-Maqrīzī provide invaluable corroboration for astrophysical models of this ancient explosion.
The sheer luminosity of the 1006 event, which reached an estimated peak apparent magnitude of -7.5, confirms it as the brightest recorded supernova in history. These historical records are crucial not only for their astronomical data but also for providing terrestrial context, such as the political climate during the sightings. Documentation originating from the Islamic world, particularly from regions spanning the Levant and North Africa, often provides observational detail for these transient events that surpasses contemporary European records, thus offering a broader global perspective on their visibility and cultural impact.