N2NH
02-24-2013, 11:43 AM
More interesting phenomena in the skies...
SN 2013aa popped off in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5643 in the constellation Lupus the Wolf (http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/lupus.htm) 34 million years ago, but no one knew its light was wiggling its way across the cosmos to Earth until New Zealand amateur astronomer Stu Parker nailed it during one of his regular supernovae hunts. Parker recorded it on Feb. 13, 2013. Since it was so far from the galaxy, he thought at first it was a hot pixel (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/hot-pixels/index.htm) (electronic artifact) or an asteroid. Another look at the galaxy 5 minutes later confirmed it was really there.
Good thing. It turned out upon confirmation to be the brightest supernova he and his band of supernova hunters had ever discovered.
Can it be seen here? Depends:
From the northern U.S., much of Lupus and especially the supernova never make it above the horizon, but from about 35 degrees north and points south, SN 2013aa is fair game. The “new star” lies southwest of the core of galaxy NGC 5643 (http://www.capella-observatory.com/ImageHTMLs/Galaxies/NGC5643.htm), which shines at magnitude 10, bright enough to see in a 6-inch telescope from a dark sky. The supernovae is still climbing in brightness and today gleams at about 11.6 magnitude – no problem in that 6-inch if you’re equipped with a good map or photo to help get you there.
An interesting year astronomically so far and we're not even through February.
Bright New Supernova Shines in Southern Skies (http://www.universetoday.com/100101/bright-new-supernova-shines-in-southern-skies/)
SN 2013aa popped off in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5643 in the constellation Lupus the Wolf (http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/lupus.htm) 34 million years ago, but no one knew its light was wiggling its way across the cosmos to Earth until New Zealand amateur astronomer Stu Parker nailed it during one of his regular supernovae hunts. Parker recorded it on Feb. 13, 2013. Since it was so far from the galaxy, he thought at first it was a hot pixel (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/hot-pixels/index.htm) (electronic artifact) or an asteroid. Another look at the galaxy 5 minutes later confirmed it was really there.
Good thing. It turned out upon confirmation to be the brightest supernova he and his band of supernova hunters had ever discovered.
Can it be seen here? Depends:
From the northern U.S., much of Lupus and especially the supernova never make it above the horizon, but from about 35 degrees north and points south, SN 2013aa is fair game. The “new star” lies southwest of the core of galaxy NGC 5643 (http://www.capella-observatory.com/ImageHTMLs/Galaxies/NGC5643.htm), which shines at magnitude 10, bright enough to see in a 6-inch telescope from a dark sky. The supernovae is still climbing in brightness and today gleams at about 11.6 magnitude – no problem in that 6-inch if you’re equipped with a good map or photo to help get you there.
An interesting year astronomically so far and we're not even through February.
Bright New Supernova Shines in Southern Skies (http://www.universetoday.com/100101/bright-new-supernova-shines-in-southern-skies/)