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@obi_jon | |
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**official astrophysics thread** A large supernova is currently visible in the night sky. The closest to earth that astrophysicists have observed in 50yrs at a mere 21million light years away. Situated near Ursa Major 'the Great Bear' aka 'the Plough' or 'the Big Dipper' or as many people know it 'the Saucepan', it can be found by following the natural line of the handle to the second star and extending that line outwards approx x2... |
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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<a href='http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/2011/pr201118.html'>the supernova page from the HSC</a> other good links for space sites: <a href='http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/'>Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics</a> / <a href='http://kepler.nasa.gov/'>NASA kepler: home page</a> / <a href='http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html'>NASA Astronomy picture of the day archive</a> / <a href='http://hubblesite.org/'>NASA Hubblesite</a>
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@rose01 | 7 September 11 |
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'This Hubble Space Telescope image of SN 1987A shows a fished-shaped central blob of supernova debris that has begun to brighten. This brightening, due to illumination by X-rays from the surrounding ring of pre-supernova material, marks the shift from a supernova to supernova remnant. The closest supernova explosion seen in almost 400 years, SN 1987A is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud.' |
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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Should appear as a distinct white patch in the sky and be visible for the next 10 days or so. It appears to be affecting my signal too.  I want a nightly tv show with Kate Humble, Dr Brian c0x and Sir Patrick Moore,
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@shadow27 | 7 September 11 |
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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Brian May could do the theme tune. 
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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more good links for space sites: <a href='http://www.space.com/'>Space.com</a>
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@phallica | 7 September 11 |
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It'd take four billion, seven hundred and twenty five million years to walk to that star.
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@driverii | 7 September 11 |
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Could u clarify one thing? Surely its visible now and has been for sometime. They can't predict a supernova appearing in a few days or weeks or months in advance. They appear when the light reaches us. There is a bright 'star' in the region u describe but i assumed it was jupiter or saturn as i've not noticed a star there before.
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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I wondered that myself driver, dunno. It looks like a milky patch, so that probably is a passing planet or maybe the ISS, 
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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Most likely that region of space has just come into view and will disappear back under the horizon at night in 10 days or so!
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@poppyt | 7 September 11 |
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Thankyou obi I'll have a butchers when these wretched clouds go away....and its night time :)
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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It said you should be able to see it with the naked eye if you have clear skies and not too much light polution, binoculars/telescopes recommended but not essential!
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@driverii | 7 September 11 |
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That region of space never dips below horizon as ursa major is used to locate the north star and rotates around it.. The iss moves fast in a straight line across the sky so what i've seen must be a planet. I shall look tonight weather permitting.
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@shadow27 | 7 September 11 |
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Oh right.. d*mnit. Not visible from here is it? blood typical
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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The weather forcast for this evening is good where I am. 
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@driverii | 7 September 11 |
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Ursa major is the closest large constallation to the north star and is approx its own length away from the north star. I'd be very worried if ursa major ever vanished below the horizon. It would mean the earth had tilted onto its side lol
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@phallica | 7 September 11 |
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I've seen the same thing, an ultra bright star with the same luminosity as the ISS, but stationary.
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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Yes you're quite right about the pole star driv, so it can't dip below can it. d*mn it, I want answers  !
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@obi_jon | 7 September 11 |
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It's the M101 galaxy.
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@driverii | 7 September 11 |
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Obviously the supernova was brightest at the moment it went bang and as it expands rapidly it cools and dims. If ya think about it light from our sun takes 8 mins to reach us. If it went supernova its light would hit us mere seconds before the exploding star matter hit us and our solar system would be entirely wiped out in a matter of days, the light diminishing all the while
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