If amateur astronomers had access to a time machine, the year 1006 A.D. would be a strong contender for the best time to stargaze in human history. In late April, a staggeringly bright “guest star” exploded into Earth’s skies in the constellation Lupus.
SN 1006 would have been around 16 times brighter than Venus, typically the brightest object in Earth’s night sky besides the Moon, according to NASA. It ultimately reached an estimated visual magnitude of -7.5 — bright enough to be visible during the day.
All around the world, people would have taken notice. And there's evidence for the event captured in historical records from China, Japan, Iraq, Egypt, Europe, and even possibly North America. Some astronomers suggest rock art found at Arizona's White Tanks Regional Park could depict the appearance of this new "star."
SN 1054: The Crab Nebula