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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Colonol Dekker on September 07, 2011, 02:17:38 pm

Title: Something about a supernova tonight??
Post by: Colonol Dekker on September 07, 2011, 02:17:38 pm
 Only the first one visible since 1604.... (http://m.tribune-democrat.com/site?targetUrl=http://tribune-democrat.com/news/x1642540882/Newly-discovered-supernova-soon-visible-via-binoculars&webredirect=true) On Firespawns.19th no less......maybe he's the Raptorjesus or something....
Title: Re: Something about a supernova tonight??
Post by: Flipside on September 07, 2011, 02:22:51 pm
The page has gone, but if it's what I think it is, it's referring to a Supernova in M101, which, whilst quite bright as these things go, will be nowhere near the 'naked eye' supernova effect like the one in 1604 :)
Title: Re: Something about a supernova tonight??
Post by: Mr. Vega on September 07, 2011, 05:38:07 pm
The 1987 Sanduleak supernova was visible to the naked eye too.
Title: Re: Something about a supernova tonight??
Post by: Enzo03 on September 07, 2011, 05:48:39 pm
Eh?

We've had supernovas visible to the naked eye since 1604.  Just, afaik, none that were actually within our galaxy.  The 1987 one was in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

The one seen by Kepler in 1604 was the last one we have seen that was in the Milky Way.
Title: Re: Something about a supernova tonight??
Post by: Scourge of Ages on September 08, 2011, 01:29:04 am
Found another article about it: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/08/us-supernova-idUSTRE7870Z520110908

Doesn't really sound like it'll be visible to the naked eye though, unless you have really good vision. Otherwise you'll need a telescope of some sort. The article says it'll be brightest between the 9th and 12th.
Title: Re: Something about a supernova tonight??
Post by: Astronomiya on September 08, 2011, 02:11:18 pm
SN 2011fe will probably peak at around 9th or 10th magnitude.  There's no way you'll see it with the naked eye, even if you have excellent vision and long experience observing.  It will however show in even a small telescope.  I'd be going for it at some point, except that a) I had to leave my telescope behind when I moved to Ohio and b) Columbus is cloudy all the damned time.