Date: April 12/13/16 - 2023
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Exposure:
73 x 5 minutes /RGB (6h 5min)
50 x 5 minutes /H-Alpha (4h 10min)
Total: 10h 15min
About This Image
Gear:
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Equinox 120ED
Mount: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Camera: Player One Poseidon-C Pro (IMX571)
Filter: IDAS LPS-D3 2" • Optolong L-Ultimate
Accessories: ESATTO 2" Focuser • Astro Hutech SCA 2" Flattener
Guiding: SVBony SV165 Mini Guide Scope • ASI462MC
Software: Photoshop • PixInsight • TheSkyX • Starkeeper Voyager
Description:
The Pinwheel galaxy, also known as Messier 101, is a stunning spiral galaxy located about 21 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It is one of the largest and brightest galaxies visible from Earth, spanning an impressive diameter of about 170,000 light-years. To put that into perspective, our own Milky Way galaxy is only about 100,000 light-years across. The Pinwheel galaxy gets its name from its striking spiral arms that resemble a spinning pinwheel when viewed from Earth. It is estimated to contain over a trillion stars, with a massive central bulge that is thought to house a supermassive black hole at its center.
Despite its immense size and distance, astronomers have been able to study the Pinwheel galaxy in detail using a combination of ground-based and space-based telescopes. In 2006, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope captured stunning infrared images of the galaxy, revealing a plethora of young stars and massive star-forming regions scattered throughout its spiral arms. The Pinwheel galaxy is also notable for its high rate of supernovae, with seven supernovae having been observed in the galaxy over the past century. This makes it a popular target for astronomers studying stellar evolution and the dynamics of galaxies.
Distance: 21 Million light-years
Size: 170,000 light-years
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Date: May 27/28th, 2023
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Exposure: 69 x 3 minutes (3h 27min)
Gear:
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Equinox 120ED
Mount: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Camera: Player One Poseidon-C Pro (IMX571)
Filter: IDAS LPS-D3 2" • Optolong L-Ultimate
Accessories: ESATTO 2" Focuser • ZWO EFW 5x2" • Astro Hutech SCA 2" Flattener
Guiding: SVBony SV165 Mini Guide Scope • ASI462MC
Software: Photoshop • PixInsight • TheSkyX • Starkeeper Voyager
Description:
SN 2023ixf is a Type II supernova that occurred in the photogenic Pinwheel Galaxy M101, which is only about 21 million light years away, making it the closest supernova seen in the past five years, the second closest in the past 10 years, and the second supernova found in M101 in the past 15 years(1)(2)(3)(4)(5). The supernova was discovered by Japanese astronomer Koichi Itagaki on May 19th, 2023 and subsequently located on automated images from the Zwicky Transient Facility two days earlier(1). Rapid follow-up observations already indicate that SN 2023ixf will likely brighten and remain visible to telescopes for months(1).
The facinating part of the image above is that all the stars you see are foreground stars from our Milky Way Galaxy. The Supernova stands out bright among them, shining brighter than most even though it is 21 million light-years further away. If you compare this image to the top image of M101, you'll notice that SN 2023ixf is not present as the light didn't reach us until 6 weeks after it was imaged.
Supernovae are the biggest explosions that ever take place in space, the demise of a massive star that can outshine galaxies(6). They can briefly have the power of up to 100 billion stars(6). According to NASA, supernovae explosions heat the interstellar medium—the empty space between stars—and spread heavy elements throughout a galaxy(6). In fact, a lot of heavy elements necessary for life are created by the nuclear reactions inside stars, which are then spewed into the cosmos during a supernova explosion(6). Supernovae can briefly outshine entire galaxies and radiate more energy than our sun will in its entire lifetime(3). They're also the primary source of bright, five-minute bursts of X-rays(3). Supernovae add enriching elements to space clouds of dust and gas, further interstellar diversity, and produce a shock wave that compresses clouds of gas to aid new star formation(4).
Sources:
- (1) science.nasa.gov/supernova-discovered-nearby-spiral-galaxy-m101
- (2) nybreaking.com/astronomers-capture-amazing-image-of-a-21-million-year-old-supernova/
- (3) tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/nasa-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-22-may-2023-supernova-snapped-by-astrophotographer-71684738699903.html
- (4) earthsky.org/todays-image/supernova-in-m101-pinwheel-galaxy-closest-in-a-decade-how-to-see/
- (5) newscientist.com/article/2375301-astronomers-race-to-observe-rare-supernova-in-a-nearby-galaxy/
- (6) forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2023/05/25/what-is-a-supernova-closest-shattered-star-in-a-decade-explained/
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Craig Sherris