On This Day, Kepler Began Observing a Supernova

On October 17, 1604, astronomer Johannes Kepler began observing a supernova in the constellation Ophiuchus. The first recorded observation in Europe took place on October 9; it was made by the Italian astronomer Lodovico delle Colombe.

Kepler followed the celestial object for a year and described his observations in his book *On the New Star in the Foot of Ophiuchus*, published in 1606. Supernova SN 1604, also known as Kepler’s Supernova, is considered the last supernova in the Milky Way to have been reliably observed with the naked eye.

Image: Johannes Kepler Public domain

Translation editor: Ловушкин А.