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M82-SN2014J, Stan McQueen

M82-SN2014J

M82-SN2014J, Stan McQueen

M82-SN2014J

Description

Here is an image of SN2014J (in the galaxy on the right-you'll probably have to enlarge this image to see it) that I managed to capture early this morning. I have been struggling with getting everything to work after I hypertuned my CGEM mount and added a new camera. Around midnight last night everything finally came together and I was able to capture almost 2 hours of M82 showing the new supernova.

This image has been stretched to emphasize the supernova in M82. SN2014J is in the news right now because it is the closest Type Ia supernova in 40 years. Also, it was caught (serendipitously) early in the explosion, which means that it will be possible to characterize much more of the light curve than is usually possible.

M82 is only (!) about 12 million lightyears from us. It is a "starburst" galaxy, so called because there are many new stars condensing and lighting up. The galaxy is about five times more luminous than the Milky Way. It is thought that the burst of new stars is being triggered by interaction with galaxy M81 (on the left in this photo).

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M82-SN2014J, Stan McQueen