SN 185

SN 185 was a transient astronomical event observed in the year AD 185, likely a supernova. The transient occurred in the direction of Alpha Centauri, between the constellations Circinus and Centaurus, centered at RA 14h 43m Dec −62° 30, in Circinus. This "guest star" was observed by Chinese astronomers in the Book of Later Han (后汉书), and might have been recorded in Roman literature. It remained visible in the night sky for eight months. This is believed to be the first supernova for which records exist.

Supernova SN 185
Infrared images from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and WISE are combined with X-ray data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA's XMM-Newton Observatory in this image of RCW 86.
Event typeSupernova remnant, supernova 
Type Ia?
Date7 December 185
ConstellationCircinus and Centaurus
Right ascension14h 43m
Declination−62° 30
EpochJ2000
Galactic coordinatesG315.4−2.3
Distance2,800 pc (9,100 ly)
RemnantShell
HostMilky Way
Notable featuresAncient records of SN 185 may be the earliest written description of a supernova.
Peak apparent magnitude"as much as -8"
Other designationsSN 185, SNR G315.0-02.3, SNR G315.4-02.3, 1ES 1436-62.4, 1RXS J144254.3-622815, 3FHL J1443.0-6227e, AJG 27, 3A 1438-626, GPS 1438-624, MSH 14-6-03, 2FHL J1443.2-6221e
Preceded byNone known
Followed bySN 386
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