During the Ming dynasty in 1408, Chinese astronomers observed a new star in the southern sky, which was later confirmed to be a nova. The star, resembling a cup-shaped oil lamp, was seen as an auspicious sign by the scholars of the Hanlin Academy. The star remained visible for 10 days, leading to a rediscovered memorial that settled debates among modern astronomers.

A recent study published in The Astronomical Journal by researchers from China, Germany, and Chile identified the stellar remnant CK Vul as the aftermath of the 1408 event. The team hopes that observatories will further investigate CK Vul and other potential objects to confirm their findings.

The star that caused the 1408 nova is believed to have transformed into a white dwarf, eventually merging with another star and resulting in the 1670 eruption associated with CK Vul. Despite being obscured by dust, astronomers can search for remnants of the ancient eruption using infrared or X-ray telescopes.

Ancient Chinese astronomers meticulously recorded celestial events for over 2,000 years, providing valuable insights into phenomena like supernovae and comets. The Crab Nebula, for example, was initially observed as a brilliant 'guest star' in 1054 and later linked to a distant glowing debris cloud by modern telescopes.