New Supernova in M51

[Stephen]

Society for Popular Astronomy - Confirmed supernova in M51

How's your French?

[Stephen]

Guess who already got a snap in

http://www.digitalsky.org.uk/DSO/2011-06-02_M51L300002.jpg

[Demonperformer]

Nothing on Latest Supernovae yet, but looks promising. And with clear skies tonight, might have a go.

[lukebl]

Just goes to show that you should always check your DSO images to see if there are any supernovae. How many people must have imaged a popular galaxy like M51 recently and missed it?

Another image of it here from Antelope Hills Observatory:

[RobertB]

I had a quick go on M51 to test some settings, 4 of the 5 subs were un-usable, but from the one that wasn't completely smeared I managed to do some tweaking. My processing is ham-fisted but if anyone would like the RAW image (and dark frame) let me know.

It was a single 60 second image, ISO 1600, unguided, Canon 1000D, C11.

(These are small JPEGs)

http://brimptonobservatory.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/m51-110602small.jpg

http://brimptonobservatory.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/m51-110602invertedsmall.jpg

and my associated blog post about it:

Breaking News: I only went and imaged a supernova last night! brimptonobservatory

[Space Cadet USA]

I am crossing fingers that the clouds go away, I will try to image it tonight, how exciting - never saw a supernova before!

[Karlos]

So exciting!!

[JohnnyD333]

Very cool, I took a shot of M51 as a test yesterday (perfect night by the way). Im going all out tonight, see if I can pick anything up. Thanks for the tip.

[bombassa]

These things must be huge.

Thanks for the pics all.

[Space Cadet USA]

These things must be huge.

Yeah somebody just had a really bad day. When I say 'just' I mean about 23 million years ago

[Hypernova]

I just got an email for S&T and this was the top story, just checked on here to see if it has been reported. I wonder if it will get any brighter than it's current mag 14 and be in range of my 8" dob (mag 13 and higher)?

[Si W]

Cant wait till it gets dark, the scopes set up already, it's first on my target list tonight.

[Space Cadet USA]

it's first on my target list tonight.

Same here if the clouds clear

[Zakalwe]

Am all set up to image, though clouds are ominously appearing on the horizon, plus it looks a bit murky straight up. Fingers crossed, eh?

[Si W]

I'm sat in the back garden, It's quite clear in Manchester, famous last words, just Aligned my scope, and waiting for it to get a bit darker

[Hypernova]

Clear here but a few high clouds drifting over. The 'scope it set up on the back cooling at the moment and fingers crossed

[12inchDoB]

what EP u lot using to see it?

I have an 11" dob, i cant even find M51 yet Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

[lukebl]

It's now designated as Supernova 2011dh. More detals here

[Hypernova]

Mag 13.5, sounds like it might be possible if the sky gets dark enough and the transparency stays good

[Zakalwe]

GAHHHHHH....clouds starting to roll in, just as I start calibrating PHD:BangHead:

[Hypernova]

Still far too light to see anything remotely close to mag 13. I can only just make out M51 in the dob as a very faint smudge against the rather light background sky. I hope it gets darker then it is now although seeing as it is midnight now it might not be possible

[John]

I've only got my 5" SCT out tonight because it's so windy here. I can see M51 OK as a pair of smudges with condensed centres but I don't reckon I can get stars below mag 11 at the moment with this scope.

[Vicky]

Amazing stuff!

[Hypernova]

I am managing about magnitude 12 stars ATM, there is a pair stars of that brightness near to M51 that I can just about make out and also appear in wikisky with that value. I need to get to see stars 2.5x fainter at least to have any chance of seeing the SN.

[Adz]

What a fantastic piece of wonder, I cannot wait to try and have a look