Shakespeare Supernova
About 10 years ago, I first learned about how the last time there was a supernova observed by the naked eye was in 1604-5.
Imagine that—William Shakespeare was able to see that astonishingly rare supernova.
Even more astonishing is the fact that he saw one before—in 1572.
He saw TWO in his lifetime.
Right away, I knew that I had to write about this. I had to make this a part of my story of Shakespeare’s life.
Over the years, the idea that he saw two of them fascinated me more and more. I was so amazed by it, that I made it part of the very first chapter of my new novel, Shakespeare & The Dragon.
I just published the first chapters last week.
In the last few days, I happened to watch the new Netflix show—3 Body Problem. In the show, the Universe “winks” at Earth.
Imagine my surprise when I learned, on March 31st, about the newest supernova—SN2023ixf.
Apparently, this is the best look we have ever had at a supernova. The astrophysicists involved were able to direct the Hubble Space Telescope right at it—in the Pinwheel galaxy. For the first time, we can study the last days of a star before it died, and learn what it will become, and transform into.
One of the astrophysicists said: “There’s a saying that we’re all stardust, and it’s true, actually, because every element in our body [originates] in a star. And when stars explode, they emit this material away, and eventually it ends up in us.”
I think that even though Shakespeare did not know what a supernova was, he knew that the universe was winking at him in 1572 and in 1604-5. He knew that there was something incredibly important about those events.
Even though Shakespeare did not know that he—and everybody else—is made of stardust, I think he knew that there is something special about us. He did write, “We are such stuff / As dreams are made on”.
I invite you to read the first chapter of my novel, and as you read the rest of the series, you will see how the supernovae in the lifetime of Shakespeare had a profound influence on his writing.
References:
photo credit:
RGB composite of the supernova SN2023ixf in Messier 101 taken on the 20.06.2023
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SN2023ixf_in_Messier_101.png