New supernova explodes in a galaxy in Virgo

A brand new supernova in Virgo

Steven Bellavia e-mailed EarthSky on Thursday, February 8, 2024, to alert us a couple of new supernova explosion in a galaxy some 55 million light-years away. From throughout huge space and time, the supernova reveals up remarkably simply in his picture.

Beginner astronomer Koichi Itagaki of Japan found the supernova on January 4, 2024. Itagaki has found greater than 170 supernovas. When Itagaki found it, the supernova was nonetheless a remarkably dim magnitude 16.3. The supernova, now named SN 2024gy, has brightened a bit since then. When Steven took his picture of the supernova on February 8, it was roughly magnitude 13. However that’s nonetheless far under what most informal newbie astronomers can spy with a yard telescope.

Within the picture above, the “earlier than” of galaxy NGC 4216 is from Could 31, 2022. And Steven took the “after” picture on February 8, 2024.

How’d he do it?

Steven shared all of the technical particulars with us. Right here’s how he received each the earlier than and after photographs:

Telescope: TSO-115mm Triplet f/7 refractor with TSO 3-inch, 0.79X reducer-flattener, 645mm focal size
Digicam: ZWO ASI 533MC Professional, cooled to -5C

Integration, Could 31, 2022, Cherry Springs State Park, PA (earlier than SN seen):
– Astronomik L2 UV-IR reduce, 21 x 300 seconds, Achieve 100 (1.75 hours)
– 30 Flat Frames, 30 Darkish-Flat Frames and 30 Darkish Frames

Integration, Feb 08, 2024, Mattituck, NY (after SN seen):
– Astronomik L2 UV-IR reduce, 20 x 240 seconds, Achieve 100 (1.33hours)
– 30 Flat Frames, 30 Darkish-Flat Frames and 30 Darkish Frames

Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Professional utilizing EQMOD software program
Information Scope: The Bellavia Fundamental 50mm, 370mm FL
Information Digicam: ZWO ASI 290MC

Nonetheless photographs

Listed below are the nonetheless photographs of the galaxy, in case you wish to take a while to pore over each the earlier than and after moments that Steven captured.

Backside line: Steven Bellavia caught earlier than and after photographs of galaxy NGC 4216, which is at the moment internet hosting a brand new supernova.

Read more: Supernova X-rays zap planets’ atmospheres, 160 light-years away