A Search for the modern counterparts of the Far Eastern guest stars 369 CE, 386 CE, and 393 CE

TL;DR

This paper re-examines ancient 'guest star' sightings from the 4th century CE, proposing possible supernova or nova identifications by analyzing historical texts and current celestial objects, thus linking historical records with modern astrophysics.

Contribution

It introduces a new application of a previously developed method to interpret ancient transient sightings, suggesting specific modern counterparts for historical celestial events.

Findings

Possible supernova identifications for 386 and 393 CE events.

The 369 CE event likely was a classical or recurrent nova, not a supernova.

Candidates like BZ Cam and CQ Dra are proposed as modern counterparts.

Abstract

In this study, we apply our previously developed method to investigate ancient transient sightings in order to derive consequences for modern astrophysical problems.We present case studies of three observations of so called 'guest stars' in the 4th century CE which lasted several months each. These three observations had been suggested and discussed as possible supernovae but slow novae are also viable alternatives. Our careful re-interpretation of the historical texts and the currently known objects in the given fields shed new light on this topic. In particular, for the two events in 386 and 393 CE we suggest possible supernova identifications, while in all three cases there are interesting candidates for past classical or recurrent nova eruptions among known cataclysmic variables (CVs) and/or symbiotic stars. The transient of 369, we suggest to explain as classical and possibly recurrent nova instead of a supernova. The most plausible candidates are BZ Cam, a CV with a possible nova shell, or CQ Dra, a naked eye multiple system perhaps able to permit an overwhelmingly bright nova with day-time visibility.