Scientific Rationale

The year 2006 marks the 1000th anniversary of the supernova of 1006 C.E., the brightest supernova in all of recorded human history. This is also a time of great excitement in the supernova community: Observations from space observatories including Hubble, Chandra, XMM-Newton, and Spitzer, together with ones from ground-based telescopes, are revealing supernova remnants in the Galaxy and beyond in unprecedented detail. Fully 3-dimensional computational codes and simulations running on powerful new machines are providing insight into the physics of supernovae freed from the simplifying assumptions that have restricted past understanding. Automated supernova searches are discovering hundreds of new supernovae every year, some at redshifts of 1 or beyond. And supernovae have revolutionized cosmology through the discovery of an accelerating universe, and they hold promise for deepening our understanding of the dark energy that drives the acceleration.

Joint Discussion 09 will bring together observers, theorists, and some historians-to celebrate the SN 1006 millennium by reviewing recent progress in understanding supernovae, their remnants, and their application to cosmology. The discussion will focus primarily on Type Ia supernovae and their remnants-from SN 1006 itself through the application of SN Ia's to cosmology. The organizers hope that the meeting will stimulate lively discussion among astronomers currently working in these fields as well as giving an overview of this exciting field for all participants in General Assembly XXVI.