A Young Supernova in the Nearby Pinwheel Galaxy
Explanation:
A nearby star has exploded and telescopes all over the world are turning to monitor
it.
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.
Its
rapid recovery makes
it one of the supernovas caught most soon after ignition.
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.
Rapid follow up observations have already given a clear indication that PTF 11kly
is a
Type Ia supernova, a type of
white dwarf detonation that usually progresses in such a standard manner than
it has helped to calibrate the
expansion history of the entire universe.
Studying such a close and young
Type Ia event, however, may yield new and unique clues.
If early indications are correct,
PTF
11kly should brighten to about visual magnitude 10 in the coming weeks, making
it possible to monitor with even moderately sized telescopes.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
