Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Another Nearby Supernova in the Whirlpool Galaxy
NASA ^ | June 05, 2011 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 06/04/2011 9:47:23 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

[Credit & Copyright: Stephane Lamotte Bailey, Marc Deldem, & Jean-Luc Dauvergne] Explanation: One of the brightest supernovas in recent years has just been recorded in the nearby Whirlpool galaxy (M51). Surprisingly, a seemingly similar supernova was recorded in M51 during 2005, following yet another one that occurred in 1994. Three supernovas in 17 years is a lot for single galaxy, and reasons for the supernova surge in M51 are being debated. Pictured above are two images of M51 taken with a small telescope: one taken on May 30 that does not show the supernova, and one taken on June 2 which does. The June 2 image is one of the first images reported to contain the supernova. The images are blinked to show the location of the exploded star. Although most supernovas follow classic brightness patterns, the precise brightening and dimming pattern of this or any supernova is hard to predict in advance and can tell astronomers much about what is happening. Currently, the M51 supernova, designated SN 2011dh, is still bright enough to follow with a small telescope. Therefore, sky enthusiasts are encouraged to image the Whirlpool galaxy as often as possible to fill in time gaps left by intermittent observations made by the world's most powerful telescopes. Views of the developing supernova are being uploaded here.

June 05, 2011

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; m51; science; sn2011dh; supernova; whirlpool; whirlpoolgalaxy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last
The Whirlpool Galaxy? Is there also a Maytag galaxy, because otherwise, it's just not fair.

1 posted on 06/04/2011 9:47:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

I even grabbed the links this time. A GIF movie is the main image, no freakin' Flash embeds or anything like that.

2 posted on 06/04/2011 9:50:03 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That’s amazing. A supernova goes from nothing to ginormous in three days? Cool.

Everything’s working fine, Civ. I can’t thank you enough for all you did for me, really.


3 posted on 06/04/2011 9:57:26 PM PDT by TheOldLady (Freepmail me to get on or off the ZOT Lightning ping list.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

What’s with the blinking star at about 7:30 - anyone guess?


4 posted on 06/04/2011 10:10:51 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

“The images are blinked to show the location of the exploded star. “


5 posted on 06/04/2011 10:14:16 PM PDT by samtheman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll
What’s with the blinking star at about 7:30 - anyone guess?

Holy cow! I think you just discovered a supernova!

6 posted on 06/04/2011 10:14:36 PM PDT by Junior_G (Funny how liberals' love affair with Muslims began on 9/11)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

I love how they call a supernova in another galaxy “nearby”. Astronomers...


7 posted on 06/04/2011 10:21:18 PM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

8 posted on 06/04/2011 10:26:25 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

M33, AKA Triangulum Galaxy, is humorously, sometimes called the Maytag Galaxy.


9 posted on 06/04/2011 10:36:36 PM PDT by PeaceBeWithYou (De Oppresso Liber! (50 million and counting in Afghanistan and Iraq))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

Aliens.


10 posted on 06/04/2011 11:03:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek

They’re funny that way.


11 posted on 06/04/2011 11:03:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: PeaceBeWithYou

Thanks. :’)


12 posted on 06/04/2011 11:05:46 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Ah, go on! It isn’t, but the following is certainly interesting!

Armchair astronaut discovers Mars ‘space station’ using Google earth
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2729996/posts

Sat 04 Jun 2011 06:19:57 PM PST · 9 of 71
SatinDoll to Free ThinkerNY

Bio Station Alpha on Mars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJt0LJZG2k

Place even seems to have a geodesic dome covering a radar array at one end. Structure is highly reflective, as though made of metal.

Go see the youtube video; I don’t know what it is.


13 posted on 06/04/2011 11:10:32 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

It is truly amazing how bright those things are, even from that distance.


14 posted on 06/05/2011 3:46:54 AM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Dang, I’m in Florida and don’t have a scope nearby.

Have to wait til I get home.


15 posted on 06/05/2011 6:14:00 AM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LibWhacker

I forget, is that from the Hubble images? Regardless, yeah, and we’re only getting part of the light. And it’s old, and attenuated.


16 posted on 06/05/2011 6:52:50 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SatinDoll

David Hatcher Childress wrote about how Marconi (the fake inventor of radio; radio was invented by and demonstrated by Nicola Tesla, who sued Marconi for patent violations, and eventually won a Pyrrhic victory in court) built spacecraft and colonized Mars. So, it’s probably their domes and stuff. ;’)


17 posted on 06/05/2011 6:54:38 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: PeaceBeWithYou

Oooh, thanks again, this Maytag Galaxy is not bad, not bad at all:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0809/M33_MortfieldCancelli_c800.jpg


18 posted on 06/05/2011 6:56:19 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Thanks Cincinna for this link -- http://www.friendsofitamar.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Junior_G; SatinDoll

From here on out, to be known as: the Satin Doll supernova.


19 posted on 06/05/2011 7:00:32 AM PDT by AFreeBird
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
Both pics were taken a couple of days apart with a small scope... Twenty three million light years away, the blast was easily picked up in a small telescope! Just amazing to me. Hubble could've picked it up clear across the universe.

No matter how much math you've had, or how accustomed you are to working with large numbers, the flesh vaporizing reality of it -- what it's really like to be near one of those things when it goes off -- is inconceivable to me. I'm in awe every time I think about 'em.

20 posted on 06/05/2011 10:40:00 AM PDT by LibWhacker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson