[AstroNet] Type 1a supernova in M101

[Maciej Soltynski]

A Type Ia supernova, the brightest and most energetic kind of stellar explosion – and the type that astronomers use to measure the accelerating expansion of the universe – has been spotted in a nearby galaxy, making it the closest such event in nearly 40 years.

Astronomers working with the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF), an automated sky survey based at the Mount Palomar observatory in California, say their robotic telescope detected the new supernova on 23 August in the galaxy M101 located some 21 million light years away.

.... by the time the supernova peaks in early September it could have a visual magnitude of 9 to 10, placing it within reach of observers using small telescopes or binoculars under clear, dark skies.

More at http://blogs.nature.com/news/2011/08/bright_supernova_one_of_the_ne.html

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