A group of scientists from Japan, Germany and Holland presented a research about the supernova Tycho Brahe had seen more than 400 years ago in the Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature. The scientific world assumed long ago that the source of the light Brahe had seen was a supernova, but the remaining question was: what type of supernova was it?

The study analyzed the light from the original explosion, as it still indirectly hits the Earth, being reflected by dust particles. The scientists used the light waves to create a spectroscopic map, which they then analyzed it.  Eventually, the study concluded that Brahe’s supernova was of the type 1a.

"The technique of observing light echoes from supernovae is a remarkable observational tool," said Dr Andrea Pastorello, of Queens University, Belfast. The scientists aim to create an even more advanced, tridimensional map of the supernova, now the light waves are crossing the Milky Way.

A supernova is a stellar explosion in which occurs upon the death of a star.  The reaction is very luminous and usually causes a wave of radiation on a very long distance. Because of the distance between Earth and stars that died, a supernova that happens in this moment could take many light-years until it is visible from Earth.

In 1572, Danish astronomer, Tycho Brahe observed a very bright light in the sky which he wrongly assumed to be a star. The thermal reactions that had taken place to the star were so powerful, that the light coming from it was clearly visible even in daylight.

The entire event made Brahe to make further studies in the matter; in his book, “Stella Nova”, he accurately describes the star’s position. His work and discoveries were the foundation on which Newton, Galileo and others put their own contribution