Possible SN ?????

[NickRose2006]

Last night while I was setting up my telescope to capture 2012 DA14 on it's way out I was looking towards Polaris and noticed something. There was a bright pinpoint flash about 10 +/- 5 deg. to the right of Polaris. It was not a meteor or satellite since it did not move. The brightness was about the same as Polaris or a little bit brighter and it only lasted 1-2sec. I want to say it is a possible SN but I thought they stay bright for several days or weeks.

What was this????

[John]

It could have been a iridium flare ?

http://www.heavens-above.com/iridiumhelp.asp

[NickRose2006]

No I don't think so. Iridium flare have a tail don't they, well at least in pictures, right. What I saw was a pinpoint.

[John]

I don't think it was a supernova to be honest. They take days to develop and do tend to be visible for a few days when at their peak. The brightest of those that I know of seem to get to around magnitude 12 so well below naked eye threshold.

[cantab]

Agreed, supernovae don't appear and vanish on anywhere near such timescales. I've seen similar phenomena myself, the best explanation I've had is that it's a meteor coming head-on towards you, the brightness and duration are a good match for such.

[Ulysses]

Hi, yes, most likely a meteor coming head on if it was a brief flash.