Supernova explosion in neighboring galaxy M101

The supernova flared up on 2011 August 24 in the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) just 21 million light-years from Earth. It’s the closest star explosion observed since 1987. How to observe supernova? Designated SN 2011fe (PTF 11kly initially), the supernova is brightening rapidly  in the Big Dipper (constellation Ursa Major). The galaxy stands above the two stars at the end of the Dipper’s handle (Eta η and Zeta ζ Ursae Majoris) and forms an equilateral triangle with them. The supernova is located about 4.4 arcminutes south (and a bit west) of M101′s center at right ascension 4^h 03^m 05.8s, declination +54° 16′ 25″.

 M101 is the third largest galaxy (in angular size) in the Messier list, and is visible as an extended object even through 10×50 binoculars. The astronomers discovered the blast within hours after its detonation. Type Ia supernova explosions are the complete thermonuclear destruction of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf star that had been collecting mass in a binary system. Supernova Ia are an important type of object in astronomy – they are extremely bright, and therefore observable at very large distances.

2011 fe could reached 10th magnitude at its peak in 11-12 of September. So it is only 2 magnitudes fainter than Neptune and easily observable by binoculars and small telescopes.

Tagged as: galaxy, supernova