PTF 11kly - closest supernova since 1986

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SPACE.com:
Closest Supernova in 25 Years Is a 'Cosmic Classic,' Astronomers Say

Astronomers have spotted the closest supernova in a generation — and in a week or so, stargazers with a good pair of binoculars might be able to see it, too.

The supernova, or exploded star, flared up Tuesday night (Aug. 23) in the Pinwheel Galaxy, just 21 million light-years from Earth. It's the closest star explosion of its type observed since 1986, and astronomers around the world are already scrambling to train their instruments on it.

Researchers said they think they caught the supernova, named PTF 11kly, within hours of its explosion.

"PTF 11kly is getting brighter by the minute. It’s already 20 times brighter than it was yesterday," Peter Nugent, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, said in a statement yesterday (Aug. 25).

"Observing PTF 11kly unfold should be a wild ride," added Nugent, who was the first person to spot the supernova. "It is an instant cosmic classic."

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Click on image to enlarge​

The arrow marks PTF 11kly in images taken on the Palomar 48-inch telescope over the nights of, from left to right, Aug. 22, 23 and 24. The supernova wasn't there Aug. 22, was discovered Aug. 23, and brightened considerably by Aug. 24.

CREDIT: Peter Nugent and the Palomar Transient Factory​

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Astronomy Now:

• Class act supernova caught on telescope
• Observing the Pinwheel's supernova

 

[george7378]

Excellent - that galaxy is visible all year round from here!

 

[agentgonzo]

Just a quick update. Now classified as sn 2001fe, the supernova is at about magnitude 10.5 and is expected to reach its peak brightness sometime in the next week or so (which is annoying as we head into a full moon).

And for those that are interested, here is what the Earth looked like 20 million years ago, roughly the time the star went nova. Not massively different from the Earth today, but the Americas are noticeably closer to Europe/Africa, Madagascar has moved, Caspian sea and the Black sea were joined, and the Red sea was basically a large river rather than a sea, with the Gulf of Oman being much bigger.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Just a quick update. Now classified as sn 2001fe, the supernova is at about magnitude 10.5 and is expected to reach its peak brightness sometime in the next week or so (which is annoying as we head into a full moon).

What the apparent magnitude is expected to be?

 

[agentgonzo]

What the apparent magnitude is expected to be?

Best guesses that I have seen seem to be 10.5-10

 

[Turbinator]

How to look for the supernova:

 

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AAVSO: Webpage devoted to SN 2011fe:

Universe Today: PTF11kly: Messier 101 Supernova SN 2011fe Update:

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You’ll need to enter the coordinates: RA: 14:03:05.81 , Dec: +54:16:25.4. If you are perfectly polar aligned, this will place the supernova directly in the center of the field of view. Using a light pollution filter will only darken the event as well, so you are best off to use a higher magnification eyepiece to darken the field, but I personally wouldn’t recommend anything stronger than a 10mm unless you’ve got a long focal ratio scope. Now go to the eyepiece and match up star patterns. You’re not going to see the galaxy, but you will see the field stars.

Until the Moon leaves the sky, it’s improbable (but not impossible) that you’ll be able to see SN 2011fe with anything less than around a 12-16″ telescope. Even though your telescope may be rated as reaching a stellar magnitude 13, we simply can’t break the rules of physics.

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[george7378]

Saw it this morning, it was about mag. 10 (similar brightness to a mag. 10.3 star on the AAVSO chart) - the full Moon blocked out the light from the galaxy, so it was quite hard to find, but once I found the pattern of stars next to it, I could see it really easily - it is still visible when the light of the whole hundred billion other stars in M101 are not! Lucky to finally get a cloudless night near the peak.

 

[agentgonzo]

Just got back in from outside. First outing with the telescope for about 2 years and I'm grinning like a madman. Took about an hour to find it from fairly light polluted skies with thin cloud every now and again. No sign of M101 but once I'd star hopped enough (had to keep running inside and upstairs to check on computer) I found it.

 

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Universe Today: How to See the Brightest Supernova in a Generation