Posted on 06/11/2011 6:08:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Where do spiral galaxies keep their supernovae? Near their massive star forming regions, of course, and those regions tend to lie along sweeping blue spiral arms. Because massive stars are very short-lived, they don't have a chance to wander far from their birth place. Remarkably, in the last 6 years two Type II supernovae, representing the death explosions of massive stars, have been detected in nearby spiral M51. Along with a third supernova seen in 1994, that amounts to a supernova bonanza for a single galaxy. As demonstrated in these comparison images, SN2005cs, the supernova discovered in 2005, and more recently SN2011dh, the exceptionally bright supernova first recorded just last month, both lie along M51's grand spiral arms. Perhaps the original spiral nebula, M51 is also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Image Credit & Copyright: R Jay Gabany]
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It farted!
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Notice how the recent image is sharper than the 2005 image, especially in the periphery.
The "Seeing" or sky/atmospheric conditions were likely better than when the previous image was obtained. Or, he obtained a better camera/equipment, lol..
Either way, it's light years better than mine M51 below. Of course, he's operating in much darker skies than I, and I believe his scope is twice the aperture.
M51--About 37 million light years out. Shot on 5/30/2010, 40D- 10" SCT 35x120 second exposures W/8 darks, @ISO 800 - 6.3 focal reducer-Astonomik LP filters.
M51 is really a spectacular galaxy.
It really amazes me, that astronomers with “serious amateur” can do much more in their own backyard today than Mt. Palomar could 50 years ago. I built a very early black/white CCD camera design maybe 15 years ago, but I have too many hobbies now and too little time. But I like seeing OTHER peoples’ astronomical images...
The left panel image was produced with a half meter RCOS telescope and a SBIG STL-11000 camera between July 1 and 7, 2005. Exposure times: 225 minutes Luminance, 45 minutes Red, 36 minutes Green, 54 minutes Blue (1X1).
The right panel image was produced with a RCOS half meter telescope, Apogee Alta U16M camera and Astrodon E-Series filters between May 5 and June 7, 2011 Exposure times: 480 minutes Luminance, 120 minutes Red, 120 minutes Green, 120 minutes Blue (All 1X1).
Wow.
That’s about all I have to say, or can say.
Excuse my ignorance, but does that picture show what it looks like it shows? That is, it looks like a “double galaxy” (if there is such a thing). Or is it two galaxies distant from each other that merely appear side by side because of the viewpoint?
Many Amateur Astronomers today are producing absolutely mind bending images thanks to digital technology.
I built a very early black/white CCD camera design maybe 15 years ago
Do you still have it?
By the way, my M51 above was taken with an unmodified DSLR off the shelf camera.
It is believed NGC 5195 passed through the main galaxy M51, about 500 million years ago.
BTW, I believe that was early speculation but new simulations or studies reveal or tend to suggest it actually passed through M51.
If you accept the idea that life is plentiful in the universe, then the sight of a supernova is also the sight of the extinguishing of an life within it’s considerable reach. On the other hand, that same energy is theorized to fuel the triggering of new stars, and alter the genomes of whatever life it can’t reach far enough to fry.
Oh lucky them. Better there than here. Or we could all be singing this.
IBTSTP
It could very well happen here, in our neighborhood, and blow the ozone off this planet. That would get really ugly. This planet already experienced some near earth supernova events in it’s past.
Yeah, I know. Just one more thing to worry about. But then again, why worry? Tara does my worrying for me. :-))
lol...
Have Tara worry for me too. I am worried out.
That’s right! and don’t you forget it!
:)
Oh NO. NOW I have something else to worry about...
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