A Young Supernova in the Nearby Pinwheel Galaxy . ... Credit Copyright: D. Andrew Howell ( LCOGT ) et al., ... The supernova, dubbed PTF 11kly, was discovered by computer only two days ago as part of the Palomar Transit Factory (PTF) sky survey utilizing the wide angle 1.2-meter Samuel Oschwin Telescope in California. ... PTF 11kly occurred in the photogenic Pinwheel galaxy ( M101 ), which, being only about 21 million light years away, makes it one of the closest supernovas seen in decades. ...