Supernova in Galaxy M82
Supernova in Galaxy M82
You may have seen the news that we can see a supernova in Galaxy M82, but did you know that you can catch that galaxy using a DSLR and a 200mm lens? I think that's it on the left, which would make the one in the top center M81 Bode's Galaxy, and the faint one in the lower right corner NGC3077 Irregular Galaxy. I don't see other galaxies in that area in my sky app, but the S shape of the one in the center doesn't quote look right to me. Am I "lost in space"?
Aside from the scientific value of having a newly discovered and relatively close supernova to study, one cool thing about this event is that an unusual increase in brightness was being discussed on one of Fraser Cain's Virtual Star Party hangouts here on G+ before the news was widely known. You can see them talking about it at around the 22 minute point in the YouTube copy of the hangout: Virtual Star Party - January 19, 2014: Jupiter, the Moon and Nebulae
#SupernovaM82 #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Canon #ioptronskytracker
What exposure time did you use?
ReplyDeleteWhat exposure and iso did you use. I guess that was a top branded 200mm lens.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall the name of that galaxy, but that's the one rumored to be on a million year collision course with the milky way. No need to worry, unless time dialation occurs, and in which case we probably won't be alive to experience it anyways.
ReplyDeleteMichael McLeod LOL. I think you refer to Andromeda Galaxy? It may collide with our galaxy in roughly 4 billion years. About the same time ahead that the earth was created ago in the past.
ReplyDeleteGordon Lee There's a great explanation on Philip Plait Bad Astronomy blog on Slate:
ReplyDelete"It was this kind of exploding star that allowed astronomers to discover dark energy, in fact. This energy is accelerating the expansion of the Universe, making it grow more every day. We don’t know a whole lot about it—it was only announced in 1998—but we’re learning more all the time. A nearby Type Ia means we can learn even more about these explosions, and hopefully calibrate our understanding even better."
I'm looking forward to more on this event in the coming weeks from Phil, and from Fraser Cain, Bob King and the folks at Universe Today:
Bright New Supernova Blows Up in Nearby M82, the Cigar Galaxy
http://www.universetoday.com/108386/bright-new-supernova-blows-up-in-nearby-m82-the-cigar-galaxy/
We're going to be talking about it during the Weekly Space Hangout today, for sure.
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