Suggested Stellar Transients

Transients that were suggested as Novae or Supernovae

In the 1930s, Walter Baade and Fritz Zwicky developed the hypothesis of stars that end their lifes in big explosions: supernovae. Only in the 1960s, in a series of three papers by Robert Krafft, the physical nature of novae was explained as surface eruptions on white dwarf stars in cataclysmic binary systems.

However, the term "nova" or "stella nova" was introduced by Tycho Brahe 1572 without any knowledge of the physics in stars, but just from the visual observation of a star seemingly appearing and vanishing after a while, but remaining at the same place (unlike comets). For European astronomy, this doubtless observation required a new category or label for the appearance. In contrast, East Asian astronomers already had a label for it: "guest star". Yet, this term was also used for objects of other physical nature and visual appearance, such as comets. Hence, the historical terms never imply any specific type of object.

Since the dawn of systematic research on variable stars in the 19th century, Sinologists and astrophysicists have attempted to compile catalogues of these objects historically called "nova" (not necessarily implying an underlying nova in the definition of astrophysics) or "guest star". Here, we collated the most famous suggestions from astrophysics papers, comment on them, and create more detailled entries for the interesting ones.

Compiled List from Authors of the 20th century

id	year	Ho Txt	our comment	Xu+ 2000	Clark+Steph. 1977	Xu Const	Ho const.	Nikivorov 2010	Duerbeck 199x	Pskovskii 1972	Xi and Po	Hsi 1957
1	-531			star	star	Wunü	Wu-Nu	yes	no	yes	no	yes
2	-524						at Ta-Chhen	no	no	yes	no	no
3	-203	a po was observed at Ta-Chio for over ten days before going out of sight.		fuzzy star	po	Dajiao	at Ta-Chio	yes	no	no	yes	yes
4	-133	a guest star appeared at the Fang.		guest star	k'o	Fang	Fang	yes	no	yes	no	yes
5	-109	a po was seen at Ho-Shu		fuzzy star		Heshu	Ho-Shu	yes	no	yes	no	no
6	-103	a po was seen among the stars at Chao-Yao.		fuzzy star		Zhaoyao	Chao-Yao	yes	no	no	no	no
7	-76	a guest star appeared at the Tzu-Wei between the star Tou-Shu and the Pole (star)		guest star	k'o	within Zigong, between Doushou and [Bei-]Ji	Tzu-Wei	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
8	-75	a candle star (chu hsing) was seen between the Khuei and the Lou.		chu	chu	?	between Khuei and Lou	no	no	yes	no	yes
9	-68		comet?					no	no	yes	no	no
10	-47	a guest star of the size of a melon and with a bluish-white colour, was seen about 4 chhih away east of the second star in the Nan-Tou		guest star	k'o	four chi east of the 2nd star of Nandou	4° away east from 2nd star Nan-Tou	yes	no	no	yes	yes
11	-46	a guest star appeared at the division of the Mao and stayed at about 5 chhih to the east of Chüan-Shê. It was bluish-white in colour and its rays measured 0.3 tshun		guest star	k'o	appeared in the space of Mao and stayed in place about five chi east of Juanshe	about 5° east of Chüan-Shê, at the division of Mao (and X)	yes	no	no	no	no
	-4	a hui appeared at the Chhien-Niu for over 70 days					Chhien-Niu	no	no	no	no	no
12	-3	a po was seen at Ho-Ku.	likely comet	fuzzy star	hui	Hegu	Ho-Ku	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
13	29	a guest star was seen	neglect	guest star		Yuzuo		yes	no	yes	yes	yes
14	59	a po was seen at Thien-Chhuan					Thien-Chhuan	no	no	yes	no	no
15	61	a guest star was seen at the NW of Kéng-Ho pointing towards Kuan-So. It went out of sight after 70 days		guest star	k'o	Genghe	NW of Kêng-Ho	yes	no	no	no	no
16	64	a guest star with a white vapour measuring 2 chhih was seen at the south of Tso-Chih-Fa, outside the Tuan-Mén. It appeared for a period of 75 days		guest star	k'o	outside the Nanduan gate of Taiwei (Enclosure) near Zuozhifa	Tso-Chih-Fa, outside Tuan-Nén (Main-Gate)	yes	no	no	no	no
17	70	a guest star was seen at Hsien-Yuan for 48 days		guest star	k'o	Xuanyuan	Hsien-yuan	yes	no	no	no	no
18	71	a guest-star was seen at the Mao. It gradually went out of sight after 60 days at the right corner of Hsien-Yuan.	comet					no	no	yes	no	no
19	85	a guest star entered the Tzu-Wei.		guest star	k'o	Zigong	Tzu-Wei	yes	no	no	no	no
20	101	a small guest star appeared at the fourth star of Hsien-Yuan. It was bluish-yellow in colour.		guest star	k'o	in the space of the fourth star of Xuanyuan	Hsien-Yuan	yes	no	yes	no	yes
21	107	a guest star appeared at the SW of the Tung-Ching and Hu		guest star	k'o	in Dongjing southwest of the Hu star	southwest of Tung-Ching and Hu	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
22	123						identified as Biot’s mistake	no	yes	no	no	no
23	125	a guest star was seen at the Thien Shih	no	guest star	k'o	Tianshi	Thien Shih	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
24	126	a guest star entered the Thai-Wei		guest star	k'o	Taiwei	Thai-Wei	yes	no	no	no	no
25	126		no					no	yes	no	no	no
	149	a hui with rays 5 ft (chhih) appeared within Thien-Shih (Enclosure) pointing SE and with a yellowish-white colour. It went out of sight on a wu-chhen day in the ninth month	comet?				Thien-Shih	no	no	no	no	no
26	158	a po was seen at Pei-Tou		fuzzy star		Beidou	Pei-Tou	yes	no	no	yes	no
27	173		no					no	yes	no	no	no
28	185	a guest star appeared at Nan-Men. Its size was as large as a mat, while its five colours were fluctuating. It became smaller and went out of sight during the sixth month of the following year [July/Aug 186]	SN	guest star	k'o	Nanmen	Nan-Mên	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
29	200	a po was seen at Ta-Liang		fuzzy star		Daliang	Ta-Liang	yes	no	yes	yes	no
30	213	a po appeared at Wu-Chu-Hou		fuzzy star		Wuzhuhou	Wu-Chu-Hou	yes	no	yes	yes	no
31	222	a guest star appeared within the Tso-I-Men of the Thai-Wei		guest star	k'o	inside Zuoyemen of Taiwei	within Tso-I-Mên of the Thai-Wei	yes	no	no	no	yes
32	247	a hui measuring 1 ft (chhih) appeared for 156 days at the Chen.	comet	broom star	hui	?	Chen	no	no	no	no	no
	257	a white hui was seen at the Chio.	comet				Chio	no	no	no	no	no
	260	a po appeared in the east for 25 days	comet					no	no	no	no	no
33	269	a po appeared within Tzu-Wei		fuzzy star		Zigong	Tzu-Wei	yes	no	no	no	no
34	275			fuzzy star		Zhen	Chen	yes	no	yes	no	no
	278	a Chhih-Yu banner appeared within Tung-Ching					Tung-Ching	no	no	no	no	no
	281	po appeared at Chang					Chang	no	no	no	no	no
35	290			guest star	k'o	Zigong	Tzu-Wei	yes	no	no	no	no
	301	a hui appeared at the (division of) Chhi					division of Chhi	no	no	no	no	no
36	304			guest star	k'o	Bi	guarded the Pi	yes	no	yes	no	yes
37	305	po appeared at Pei-Tou		fuzzy star		Beidou	Pei-Tou	yes	no	no	no	yes
38	329	po appeared at the NW trespassing against Pei-Tou		fuzzy star	po	Dou	Pei-Tou	yes	no	no	yes	no
39	340	25. Mrz: a po was seen at the Thai-Wei.	meteor	fuzzy star		Taiwei		yes	no	no	no	no
40	358	a hui was seen extending from Thien-Chhuan to the Wei	meteor					no	no	no	no	yes
41	369	a guest star appeared at the western wall of the Tzu-Wei. It went out of sight during the seventh month		guest star	k'o	Zigong	Tzu-Wei	yes	yes	no	yes	yes
42	386	a guest star appeared at the Nan-Tou. It went out of sight during the sixth month.		guest star	k'o	Nandou	Nan-Tou	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
43	389		no					no	yes	no	yes	no
44	393	a guest star was seen within the Wei. It went out of sight during the ninth month		guest star	k'o	Wei	Wei	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
45	396	a hui was seen at Mao-Tou. At first, a large yellow star appeared at the Mao and the Pifor more than 50 days. In winter, during the 11th month the yellow star reappeared.		star	star	in the space of Mao and Bi	Mao + Pi	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
46	402	a white guest star, which resembled loose cotton was seen at the west of the Thai-Wei. During the 12th month it entered theThai-Wei.	comet	guest star	k'o	?	Thai Wei	no	no	no	no	no
47	414	a po appeared at the south of the Mao		fuzzy star		south of Mao	Mao	yes	no	yes	yes	no
48	419	a po appeared at the western wall of the Thai Wei		fuzzy star		at the west palisade of Taiwei	Thai-Wei	yes	no	yes	yes	no
49	421	a guest star was seen at the I		guest star	k'o	Yi	I	yes	no	yes	no	yes
50	436	a po was seen at the Fang	meteor	fuzzy star		?	Fang	yes	no	yes	no	yes
51	437	a star appeared during the day at 15 to 17 h in the NE by the side of Tung-Ching. It was yellow in colour and was as large as an orange		star	star	?	Tung-Ching	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
	449	a hui appeared at the north of the Mao					Mao	no	no	no	no	no
	464	a chhang-hsing was seen at Chih-Nü (Vega). It was pure white in colour.					Ho-Phing	no	no	no	no	no
52	483	a guest star of the size of a peck measure appeared at the Shen. It looked like a po		guest star	k'o	east of Shen	Shen	yes	no	no	no	no
53	537	a guest star was seen at the Tzu-Wei		guest star	k'o	?	Tzu-Wei	no	no	no	no	no
54	541	a guest star was seen at the Tzu-Wei		guest star	k'o	in Zigong	Tzu-Wei	yes	yes	no	no	no
55	561	a guest star appeared at the I		guest star	k'o	Yi	I	yes	no	yes	no	yes
56	568	a guest star was seen at the east of the Ti. […]	comet	-	-		Ti	no	no	no	no	yes
57	575	a po appeared at Ta-Chio		fuzzy star		in Dajiao	Ta-Chio	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
58	588	a po appeared at the Chhien-Niu		fuzzy star		Qianniu	Chhien-Niu	yes	no	yes	no	yes
59	617	a po appeared at Wu-Ti-Tso of the Thai-Wei. It was of a reddish-yellow colour and measured 3 to 4 in. (tshun). After a few days it went out of sight.		-	-		Thai-Wei	no	no	yes	no	no
60	639	a po appeared at the Pi and the Mao		-	-			no	no	no	no	yes
61	641	a po was seen at the Thai-Wei trespassing against Lang-Wei. It disappeared on a chia-hsü day (26.08.) in the seventh month.		fuzzy star	po	in Taiwei that trespassed Langwei	Thai-Wei	yes	no	no	no	no
62	642			guest star	-	?		yes	no	no	no	no
63	667	a hui appeared at the NE among Wu-Chhé and Pi and Mao. It was not visible on an i-hai day.	comet	-	-		among Wu-Chhé and Pi and Mao	no	no	no	no	yes
64	668	a hui appeared above Wu-Chhé. It went out of sight on the 22nd day [7. Juni]	highly likely a miscalculated year; same as 667: comet	-	-		Wu-Chhé	no	no	yes	yes	yes
65	683	a hui appeared north of Wu-Chhé. After 25 days it went out of sight		-	-		Wu-Chhé	no	no	yes	yes	yes
66	684			fuzzy star	po	?		no	no	no	no	no
67	707							no	no	no	no	no
68	708	a po appeared between the Wei and the Mao		fuzzy star		between Wei and Mao	between Wei and Mao	yes	no	yes	yes	no
69	709	a po appeared within the Tzu-Wei		fuzzy star		Zigong	Tzu-Wei	yes	no	no	no	no
	718	a hui comet was observed						no	no	no	no	no
70	722	a guest star appeared by the side of Ko-Tao for a period of five days before going out of sight		guest star	k'o	Gedao	Ko-Tao	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
71	725			fuzzy star		Huagal		yes	no	yes	yes	yes
72	730	the po was seen between the Pi and the Mao					between Pi and Mao	no	no	no	yes	no
73	745			fuzzy star		Jiangjun		yes	no	yes	yes	yes
	767	a hui appeared at Hu-Kua, with its rays gradually invading Huan-Ché. It measured more than 1 ft (chhih). After 20 days it went out of sight	comet				Hu-Kua	no	no	no	no	no
	773	a chhang-hsing appeared at the Shen					Shen	no	no	no	no	no
74	827		no					no	no	no	yes	yes
75	829	a guest star appeared at the Shui-Wei		guest star	k'o	Shuiwei	Shui-Wei	yes	no	yes	no	yes
76	837		comet	guest star	k'o	alongside Nandou and Tianyue		yes	no	yes	no	no
77	839		no	-	-			no	no	yes	no	yes
78	840	a hui appeared between the Ying-Shih and the Tung-Pi					between the Ying-Shih and the Tung-Pi	no	no	no	no	yes
79	852	a hui appeared at the Tzui and the Shen					Tzui and Shen	no	no	no	no	yes
	868	a guest star trespassed against Venus		-	-			no	no	no	no	no
80	877	a guest star appeared to the west of the (Tung-)Pi		guest star	k'o	?	west of Pi	no	no	no	no	yes
81	881			-	-			no	no	yes	no	yes
	885	a hui was seen between CHi-Shui ad Chi-Hsin					Chi-Shui and Chi-Hsin	no	no	no	no	no
82	891	a guest star appeared at Tung-Hsien		guest star	k'o	?	Tung-Hsien	yes	no	yes	yes	no
83	892	a thien-chhang was seen in the SW. On a chi-mao day it turned into a cloud and faded away	comet	-	-			no	no	no	no	yes
84	900	a guest star was seen at the Central Palace by the side of Huan-Ché. It was as large as a peach, while its rays extended to Huan-Ché and concealed it from view.		guest star	k'o	beside Huanzhe in the Central Enclosure (=Taiwei Enclosure)		yes	no	no	no	yes
85	902		comet	-	-			no	no	yes	yes	yes
86	911	a guest star trespassed against Ti-Tso		guest star	k'o	Dizuo	Ti-Tso	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
	912	a hui was seen at the west of Ling-Thai					Ling-Thai	no	no	no	no	no
87	926	0	no					no	yes	no	no	no
88	930	0	no					no	no	yes	no	no
89	945	0	no					no	yes	no	no	no
	956	a po appeared at the corner of the Shen with its rays pointing SE						no	no	no	no	no
90	980			star		Dizuo		yes	no	yes	yes	no
91	1006				k'o	?		yes	no	yes	yes	yes
92	1011	a guest star appeared in the front of th box of the Nan-Tou		guest star	k'o	in front of the bowl of Nandou	Nan-Tou	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
93	1012	0	no					no	no	no	no	no
94	1020	a hui appeared between Tzung-Chéng, Tsung-Jen and Shih-Lou					between Tzung-Chéng, Tsung-Jen and Shih-Lou	no	no	yes	yes	no
95	1031	0	no	star		Yugui		yes	no	yes	yes	no
96	1035	a star appeared at night at Wai-Phing. It had vaporous rays		star	star	Waiping	Wai-Phing	yes	no	yes	no	no
97	1054			guest star	k'o	several cun southeast of Tianguan		yes	no	yes	yes	yes
98	1065	a guest star trespassed against Thien-Miao		guest star	k'o	Tianmiao	Thien-Miao	yes	yes	no	yes	yes
99	1069	a guest star appeared at the longitude of Chi.On 23rd July it trespassed against Chi and then went out of sight		guest star	k'o	?	longitude of Chi	no	no	no	no	no
100	1070	a guest star appeared at Thien-Chün		guest star	k'o	Tianqun	Thien-Chün	yes	no	yes	no	yes
101	1073	a guest star appeared at the south of the Tung-Pi		guest star	k'o	south of the stars of Dongbi	Tung-Pi	yes	no	yes	yes	no
102	1074	a guest star as large as a melon was seen at the south of Tung-Pi		guest star	k'o	south of the stars of Dongbi	Tung-Pi	yes	no	no	no	no
103	1080	a hui trespassed against the Wei	comet	-	-		Wei	no	no	no	no	yes
104	1082	0	no	star		Ziwei; trespassed against Beichen		yes	yes	no	no	no
105	1087	0	no	star	-	Wenchang		yes	no	no	no	no
106	1113	a po was seen at the Ying-Shih		fuzzy star	-	Yingshi	Ying-Shih	yes	no	yes	yes	no
107	1123	a po was seen at Pei-Tou		fuzzy star	-	Beidou	Pei-Tou	yes	no	yes	yes	no
108	1138	a guest star was guarding the Lou		guest star	k'o	Lou	Lou	yes	no	no	no	yes
109	1139	a guest star guarded the Kang		guest star	k'o	Kang	Kang	yes	no	yes	no	yes
110	1163	a guest star trepsassed against the moon		guest star	k'o	?		yes	yes	no	no	no
111	1166	a guest star appeared within the Thai-Wei Enclosure at the west of the large star of Wu-Ti-Tso. Its magnitude was small and it was of a bluish-white colour		-	-		Thai-Wei	no	no	no	no	no
112	1175	a po appeared at the NW outside th Tzu-Wei and above Chhi-Kung. It was as small as Mars, but rays radiated out copiously in all directions. On a ping-wu day it went out of sight		fuzzy star	po	outside the wall of Ziwei and above Qigong	outside Tzu-Wei and above Chhi-Kung	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
113	1181	a guest star appeared at the Khuei and trespassed against the stars of Chhung Ché. It went out of sight on a kuei-yu day in the first month of the following year, asting 185 days		guest star	k'o	Emerged in the lunar mansion Kui and trespassed against the stars of Chuanshe	Khui	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
114	1203	a guest star appeared at the SE within the Wei- It was bluish-white in colour and was of the same size as Saturn		guest star	k'o	Wei lunar mansion	Wei	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
	1210	a guest star entered the Tzu-Wei. Its rays spread out like a red dragon.		-	-		Tzu-Wei	no	no	no	no	no
115	1217		no	-	-			no	no	yes	no	no
116	1220	a hui appeared at the NW at a distance of 1 ft to the east of Théng-Shé. It was red in colour.		fuzzy star		Beidou	east of Théng-Shé	yes	no	yes	no	no
117	1221	a po appeared at Pei-Tou					Pei-Tou	no	no	yes	yes	no
118	1224	a guest star guarded and trespassed against Wei		guest star	k'o	Wei	Wei	yes	yes	no	no	yes
119	1230		comet					no	no	yes	yes	yes
120	1232	… measuring over 10 ft and was bent like an elephant’s tusk	comet					no	no	no	no	yes
121	1240	a hui was seen at the (Ying)Shih. On a [31.March] it went out of sight.					(Ying)Shih	no	no	no	no	yes
122	1240			guest star	k'o	lunar mansion Wei	Wei	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
123	1244		no					no	no	no	no	no
124	1245		comet	-	-			no	yes	yes	no	no
125	1248		no	-	-			no	yes	no	no	no
126	1264		comet					no	no	no	no	no
	1297	12.-18.+25.03. appeared at the Tung-Ching		-	-		Tung-Ching	no	no	no	no	no
127	1297	14.+18.09. an ominous star appeared at the Khuei		-	-		Khuei	no	no	no	no	yes
128	1299			-	-		below Tzu + Sun	no	no	no	no	yes
129	1313			-	-		Tung-Ching	no	no	no	no	yes
130	1356	On a kuei-chhou day in the forth month of the fifth year of Kongmin Wang a guest atar trespassed against the moon		guest star	k'o	?		yes	no	no	no	no
	1368	a hui appeared between the Mao and the Pi					between Mao and Pi	no	no	no	no	no
	1373	a hui entered Tzu-Wei Enclosure three times					Tzu-Wei	no	no	no	no	no
131	1375		no					no	no	no	no	no
132	1388			star	star	Dongbi	Tung-Pi	yes	no	yes	no	yes
133	1399	'a guest star was seen’		guest star	k'o	?		yes	no	no	no	no
134	1404	a star like a lamp appaered at the south-east of Nien-Tao. It was yellow in colour and very bright, but remained stationary		star	star	Niandao	south-east of Nien-Tao	yes	no	yes	no	yes
135	1408		?	Zhou Bo star	-	?		yes	no	no	no	no
136	1415	a hui appeared at the Nan-Tou		fuzzy star	-	Nandou	Nan-Tou	yes	no	yes	no	no
137	1430	a star appeared by the side of Nan-Ho. It was as large as a pellet and is colour was dark-blue. After 26 days it went out of sight		guest star	star	more than one chi northeast of Nanhe	Nan-Ho	yes	no	yes	yes	yes
138	1431	a star like a pellet appeared by the side of Chiu-Yu. It was yelloish-white and very bright. It disappeared after 15 days		star, Hany star, broom star	star	?	Chiu-Yu	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
139	1437	a guest star appeared between the 2nd and 3rd star of Wei and went out of sight after 14 days		guest star	k'o	between the second and the third star of Wei, nearer to the third star and separated from it by about half a chi	Wei	yes	no	yes	yes	no
140	1452			fuzzy star	-	Bi	Pi	yes	no	yes	no	no
	1457	26.10. a hui appeared at the Chio measuring over 5 (tshun) pointing north. It trespassed against the northern star of the Chio and the eastern star of the Phing-Tao.					Chio	no	no	no	no	no
	1458							no	no	no	no	no
141	1460		no	fuzzy star	star	Yi		yes	no	yes	no	no
142	1461	a star as white as powder appeared by the side of Tsung-Cheng in the Thien-Shih Enclosure. On an i-wei day it turned into a white vapour and went out of sight		-	-		Thien-Shih	no	yes	no	no	yes
143	1489		no	-	-			no	yes	no	no	no
144	1497		no	guest star		Tianji		yes	no	no	no	no
145	1523			fuzzy star		Tianshi	Thien-Shih	yes	no	no	yes	no
146	1572	8.11. 1572 … ahui appeared in the NE. It went out of sight only during the … 21.04.-19.051574		guest star	k'o	beside Gedao in the space of Bi		yes	no	yes	yes	yes
147	1584			star	star	Fang	Fang	yes	no	yes	no	yes
148	1592			guest star	k'o	Tiancang	Thien-Tshang	yes	no	yes	yes	no
149	1592			guest star	k'o	Wangliang		no	no	yes	yes	no
150	1592			guest star	k'o	Wangliang		no	no	yes	yes	no
	1596	a hui appeared at the Tung-Ching. It was of the same size as the large star in Wu-Chhé [Capella]. On 22.08. it went out of sight.	likely a comet	-	-		Tung-Ching	no	no	no	no	no
151	1600-1621, 1655			-	-			no	no	yes	yes	no
152	1600			guest star	-	Wei		yes	no	no	no	no
	1603	a guest star appeared at the Wei larger than Huo-Hsing in the Hsin (Antares). Its colour was yellowish-red. It was scintillating. On a ting-wei day (…) it trespassed against Venus at the Wei.		-	-		Wei	no	no	no	no	no
153	1604			guest star	k'o			yes	no	yes	yes	no
154	1645			star		Yugui		yes	no	yes	yes	no
155	1661			guest star		Nü		yes	no	yes	no	no
156	1664							no	no	yes	yes	no
157	1676							no	no	yes	yes	yes
158	1688							no	no	yes	no	yes
159	1690			star		east of the third star of Ji; 3 du 18 fen in Wei, DE -34 du, 20 fen		yes	no	yes	yes	yes