800 Years Later: Ibn Sanā’ al-Mulk’s Text Uncovers Signs of an Explosive Star Vanished from the Sky

Sometimes the sky lights up with a sudden brightness, visible even without an instrument. In 1181, this phenomenon was observed for months by Chinese and Japanese scholars, without the exact trace being able to be found today. An ancient Arabic text, forgotten for centuries, changes the situation. This unprecedented testimony could well offer a new avenue for understanding this historic supernova.

A star that appeared in 1181 in the sky and texts

The year 1181 marked the sudden appearance of a point of light in the northern sky, documented for several months by Chinese and Japanese astronomers. Observed with the naked eye, this celestial object intrigues modern scientists, because no clear remains seem to correspond to this explosion in our galaxy. In the absence of definitive identification, specialists are still hesitating between several remnants, such as the 3C58 pulsar or the Pa-30 nebula. For a long time, only stories from the Far East offered concrete elements.

An article published in the journal Astronomische Nachrichten changes the situation. A team led by Ralph Neuhäuser and Jens Georg Fischer reveals that an Arabic poem composed in Cairo between December 1181 and May 1182 contains previously unpublished details. The text evokes the appearance of a new star in the constellation of Cassiopeia, described in its Arabic form “the hand dyed with henna”. This independent mention, ignored until now, provides valuable insight into the search for the celestial phenomenon. The analysis was also reported in Popular Science, which highlights the significance of these discoveries for understanding supernovas.

Ibn Sanā' al-Mulk's poem, witness to a historic supernova

The text analyzed is the work of Ibn Sanā' al-Mulk, a senior official at Saladin's court and a renowned poet. Written in the classic qasida style, this poem of praise contains a series of celestial metaphors which take on an unexpected astronomical value. The author evokes a new star, described as “najm”, which adorns the celestial hand represented by Cassiopeia. He specifies that it shone more brightly than its fixed neighbors and that it aroused the perplexity of the astrologers of the time.

The absence of apparent movement, the precise location in the sky and the light intensity compared to the star α Cas (magnitude 2.25) reinforce the hypothesis of a supernova. The image of the jewel or ring on the finger, used in the text, suggests a single, dazzling point of light. This description confirms observations from the Far East, which reported prolonged visibility, exceeding 180 nights. On the other hand, the Arabic poem stands out by explicitly naming the constellation concerned. Thus, it becomes possible to target more precisely the area where to look for the residue.

The lyrical style in no way cancels out the scientific value of the passage. At the time, it was not uncommon for celestial phenomena to be reported in literary works. Moreover, medieval poets often use astral references to glorify sovereigns, like here Saladin, associated with the star or presented as surpassing the stars.

What this discovery changes for modern astrophysics

The discovery of an independent Arab source provides new support for more precisely locating the observed phenomenon. Asian accounts lacked clarity on the exact position in the sky. Ibn Sanā' al-Mulk's text refocuses the analysis towards the area of ​​Cassiopeia. Two main avenues emerge. The 3C58 nebula appears too old. The Pa-30 nebula seems more consistent with a dating close to 1181, provided we rule out any idea of ​​slowing down.

The fact that the poet wrote this text only a few months after the apparition suggests that the star was still shining in the sky or that its recent radiance had left a lasting impression on people's minds. This reinforces the concordance with Asian chronicles which mention a prolonged observation between August 1181 and February 1182. The convergence between these different sources increases the probability that the observed event was indeed a supernova.

More generally, this discovery recalls the scientific interest of ancient texts. Before the invention of telescopes, celestial phenomena were transmitted through stories or poems. When read carefully, these texts offer valuable help. Crossed with historical, linguistic and astronomical contexts, they sometimes make it possible to solve forgotten mysteries. A simple stanza, long neglected, today gives back its place to a light that has disappeared from the sky.