Science
The Planet’s Closest Supernova in 25 Years Can Be Seen This Weekend
- Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:30pm by
Liz Klimas
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Grab your binoculars. This weekend you’ll be able to see the closest supernova to our plant within the last generation from your own backyard.
The supernova, spotted last week by astronomers in the Pinwheel Galaxy, which Wired reports is from our perspective in the Big Dipper, is an exploding white dwarf star.
Watch this Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Astrophysicist explain how to pinpoint it this weekend:
The supernova will reportedly reach peak brightness on September 9. Just 21 million light years away, according to Space.com, this is the closest supernova to earth since 1986.
The green arrow points out the brightening supernova named PTF 11kly. (Photo: Peter Nugent and the Palomar Transient Factory via Space.com)
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Comments (133)
Ceefour
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:24amWe are DOOMED…its the end of life on this earth as we know it….give me your money
Report Post »Dwolf71
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:47amOMG you’re right…
Give me your bank account number and I’ll make the deposit.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:27amI’m sure that could not be an asteroid or comet heading toward earth ?
Report Post »maybe the it is the return of the ANUNNAKI ? Come back to collect the gold….
zman173rd
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:23amHey that’s funny! I think…
Report Post »sharone
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:43amblame bush
Report Post »DSN397
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:06pmCeefour perhaps you and DWOLF71 should check and see if Mad Magazine is still in publication, it’s obvious the Blaze is just a tad above you intelligence level.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:20pmYo DWOLF71:
Report Post »You makin me laugh…………………………………….
Would you really do that……………….?
I’ll give you mine….. because I would like to expand my business investigating fraud.
kindling
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:20pmI was watching shooting stars the other night and saw a really bright flash brighter than any shooting star I have seen in years. I believe it may have been a shooting star coming my direction so I would not see a streak or tail on it.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:58pmJust make your “ will” out to me.
Report Post »Wayner
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:15pmAnd this happened 21 million years ago? Funny I didn’t hear a thing.
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:25pmyour right it’s the end but buy gold now and food insurance.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:13pm… damn, if it wasn‘t pointed out to me with a green arrow I’d be lost. Still am … I’ll never see it!!!!!
Report Post »MOVETERAN
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:01pmNo you both so need to send me your accounts so that I can draft them for investments in my fool proof disaster shelter.
Report Post »newspapertaxis
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:07pmOkay, Okay, I’m printing it as fast as i can……. O
Report Post »capitalmill
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:34pmYes! You are right!! But I can give you the information you need to survive!! So send ME your money!!
Report Post »Dwolf71
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:28pmDSN397, you need to invest in a sense of humor, brother.
Report Post »OneCitizenOfTheRepublic
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 6:08amsigned, Barry Obama
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on September 4, 2011 at 7:42amIts a sign from the heavens – Our great leader will provide us with the path to economic surety this Thursday evening. Let us give thanks to President Obama for his magnificence.
Report Post »ThoughtfulConservative
Posted on September 11, 2011 at 10:05amHow much do you need?…I don’t have much, I live in America. But I’m sure I can scrape up enough, just let me check my pockets…oh wait, spent it all on pop and candy. dang it!
Report Post »RichEG
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:23amThis is a celestial example of the application of Keynesian economics.
Report Post »ApokTheGreat
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:21pmI always thought Obama was an illegal alien from outer space…that big KABOOOM was the system which elected Obama as leader just prior to his arrival on earth.
Forget gold, invest in Spaceship 1.
Report Post »LOL
Secessionista
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:33amI am tired of the rollover ads.
GETLIFE
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:46amSo am I.
Report Post »pwd
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:27amHave you tried using Adblock?
Report Post »outsidethebox
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 10:30amI’m tired of that “Next Story” bar on the right side of the screen. They really need to get rid of that
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:38pmSecond the motion.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:52pmAlthough, I’ll vigorously search an ad to help promote the Blaze,etc.; however, it is very annoying when the ad speaks over other reports , especially , when the reports are talking.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:54pmNext story, apt description. Don’t like it either.
Report Post »Phyliss
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:48pmMe too
Report Post »khoregon
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:52pmSame. I wish they’d quit it.
Report Post »hitofly
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 7:05amYup I know its Bushes fault. Don’t worry Obama the magnificent will fix it.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:46amIs it a champagne super nova a champagne super nova,
Report Post »in the sky ?
Nathan
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:38amMust… say… something… clever…!
Oh brother!
Report Post »GA_dandelion
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:38amI blame Bush
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:22amBack in highschool I used to drive a super Chevy Nova— till it blew up. I certainly can’t say I was very bright at the time.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:30amI had a friend who had an old Chevy Nova with a Corvette hood scoop on it.Cool car!
Report Post »jorja
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 4:38amIn Spanish No Va means No Go.
Report Post »carnifex
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:03amExcuse #548 from Obama about why the economy isn’t improving…of course ultimately its George Bush’s fault. The supernova I mean.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:50amAwww, yeah. I’ll have 108 square inches of lens pointed at that bad boy!
Come on, people… make sure you go out and have a look, even if you only have binos without a mount. Brace them against something. Show your kids!
This is so cool.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:47amVery cool. Especially since they are saying that comet Elenin will be a flop.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:29amIt seems as the solar winds are causing comet Elenin to diffuse as it gets closer to the sun.It‘s fading fast like Obama’s poll numbers.
Report Post »AzCowboy
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:43amgot a nexstar 8″ computer driven scope. I’ll be there
Report Post »jH…
tower7femacamp
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 9:31amhttp://www.docdb.net/show_object.php?id=ngc_5236
Report Post »M100Spiral
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:53amI have two sets of binoculars, a 10×50 and a 12×70. I bought them for stargazing, but so far I have only been able to use them for viewing the fireworks on the holidays. I live in one of the most light-polluted cities of America. The city illuminates a glow hundreds of miles away. All towns and cities within the 200-mile radius suffer from the same poor visibility for stargazing.
Report Post »However, I live in the Southwest Region of the United States. I believe the best region for stargazing. In two neighboring states, there are quite a few cities and national parks that have been awarded the Dark Sky Award, an international award.
N37BU6 is correct! If you live in an area of little or no light-pollution, you should take advantage of this opportunity and view this supernova. Those who possess telescopes will enjoy an awesome experience!!! Do not let this opportunity pass you by. Some national parks have stargazing programs during the evening hours with their rangers. I unfortunately know nothing about these programs except for what I have read in the National Parks magazine. I read that even some of the Eastern states have these programs.
Kara_ite
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 8:01pmHow can you have square inches on a round surface? I’m not telescope savvy at all. My dad would show us the planet Venus and it was cool, he made his own telescopes, so maybe it wasn’t Venus. I remember Saturn had rings. You could really see very well.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 11:44pmIt’s a quick average, rounded down.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:37amObamas sign is the Big Dip.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:38pmyeah. and then ya got the little dip… Mr. V..P
Report Post »El Pistoffo
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:04amI‘m an astronomy buff but I have to say we’re already having a few supernovas of our own. The economy, the Mexican border, the Middle East, the Progressives, the environmentalists, so on and so on.
Report Post »freedomofspeech
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:59amyes those issues seem so minor compaired to a star blowing up, call me when our own star decides to nova:) This is a good begining to the discusion, what good is saving the earth when our sun will blow up?
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:09amThe sun will swallow the earth’s orbit before it blows.Al Gore will finally have some real global warming!
Report Post »lonestarbill
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:33amI looked at the system last week through my telescope and saw George Bush and Dick Cheney leaving the area just before it exploded. Don’t those guys ever rest?
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:01amObama would do far much more damage and in a shorter time than Bush and Chenney could ever think of.
Report Post »Komponist-ZAH
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:06amWell, after Obama stretched forth his hands and stopped Irene from doing the damage they had created her to do, they thought they needed to do something more dramatic. ;)
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 3:02amTechnically, Bush was flying the black helicopter while Cheney planted the explosive charge. George was in the cockpit shouting, “Yeah! Yeah! Get’im Dick!”
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 5:44amAnd Slick Willy is yelling go baby, go baby! But wait, is that someone under his desk?
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:19amPinwheel Galaxy ?
Right next to the Merry-go-Round Nebula.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:27amNot to be confused with the Tilt-A-Whirl Galaxy which is next to the “Ford Galaxy.”
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:29amParked by the Plymouth Satellite.
Report Post »Jeff says
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:04amNear to planet Clare
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:05amWhere is the “Chevy Nova?”
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:33pmUsed to have my own demon (Dodge) one time, till I got rid of it. I have seen the light !!!
Report Post »Owned my own galaxy once too!.. financial troubles… you know. had to sell it.
It was OK though ..I just Ramblered on.
BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:17amI don’t think it will be seen at all.Our closest Galaxy, Andromeda, only looks like an oval blurr.This Ssuper Nova is in some other farther away galaxy which would be even harder to find than Andromeda.It will be a non event. Check out a site called ‘Astro Bob” and see what he has to say.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:00amAndromeda is huge in the night sky, you just need large aperture to gather the light. This supernova will be compact and bright. It should be pretty visible.
Sure it will just look like any other star, but it will be cool to know you’re actually looking at one exploding.
Go have a look!
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:02amActually, the closest galaxy is the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy, at 80,000 light years distance.
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:07amOr,Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy. Whoever you believe says is the closest.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 2:12amAn international team of astronomers have discovered a new galaxy colliding with our own Milky Way. This new galaxy, Canis Major, is located only 42,000 light years away from the centre of the Milky Way – it’s our new “closest galaxy”. Canis Major was discovered during an infrared survey of the sky, which allowed the astronomers to peer through the obscuring dust and gas of the Milky Way. Canis Major is quite small (as galaxies go); it only contains about a billion stars.
Report Post »Glory Passing
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:09amWhat is “our plant” ?
Report Post »ARELL
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 4:43pmOur plant,
Report Post »Is a very, very, very fine plant;
With two leaves on the stem,
Life used to be so dim;
Now everything is bright because of supernova!
4truth2all
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 6:41pmWasn’t that … our house.. or am I on another plant.
Report Post »LinkedIn G
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:04amU C Berkely ? With all the false information coming out of that place … I’m usually skeptical. But … why would he lie ?
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:47pmBinoculars shake too much. I was out observing Jupiter the other morning and I could barely make out four of Jupiter’s moons.A telescope is much better suited or get a tripod mount for your binoculars. I heard they have some gyro stabilized binoculars on the market.Very expensive.
Report Post »ericthebarbaric
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:47pmWhat I said earlier. This guy is a fraud. Prove what you say. Oh, sorry. I forgot that truth is your enemy.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:43pmIt’s just going to look like a speck of light.Comet Elenin might be a litle more exciting to observe. Time to dust off the old telescope!
Report Post »woodruff
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:43pmWhat a grand event to share with our grandchildren. Hope the night sky lights up like a chirstmas tree so we can see this supernova and point out the beauty of the stars in the sky.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:42pmAwesome. Looking at the thoughts of the “Intelligent designer.”
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:49pmInteresting indeed, I hope to see it within the lights of this city — no way to get to the coutryside easily right now. Incredible, and you are right, the hand of the Creator indeed. The master artist himself in action.
Report Post »ericthebarbaric
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:41pmIs this guy a credible scientologist or just someone on ectasy enjoying a temporary high? I mean supernovas are rarely seen phenomenoms and in his shakey hands unlikely.
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:57pmThis is the star I paid to be named for me. It came with a 5 billion year warranty. I want my money back!
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:41pmA super nova is a gigantic threat throughout God’s entire ALL MIGHTY UNIVERSE. If you are within about 1,000 light years, I think, the planet that you’re on gets vaporized. HEY LIBERALs, START A SUPER NOVA THREAT PROGRAM. IT IS A MUCH MORE POTENTIAL DISASTER THAN MAN-MADE GLOBAL WARMING. LOL.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:59pmLOL!!!! oh, and don’t forget the meteor heading this way to be here by 2036???? lets pay taxes now on the pending devastation on the flora/fauna, not to mention the dust/pollution in the atmosphere.
Report Post »The rich need the $$$$$ now to save the planet then.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:15amActually we have three super nova starters in this nation: Pelosi, Reid and Obama.
Every time one of them opens their mouths, a number of Americans go super nova instantly.
Report Post »http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (cat folk art)
TXPilot
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:40pmWell, this will be a nice change of pace….Instead of me standing outside yet again, waiting for the promised blessings of Obama to rain down on me out of the sky, I can instead get to see the wonders of the universe in action.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:57amThat’s the spirit.
Report Post »SCARY
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:39pmIts kinda cool but…..isnt the giant green arrow in outer space worth commenting on?
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 11:53pmI searched all over for the green arrow! Never found it!
Report Post »LinkedIn G
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:09amYou need binoculars.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 12:19amI have binoculars and a telecope.What I need is a green laser pointer.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:00amThat green arrow points to Obamas’ birth place. Prove otherwise if you can.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:12amI thought the green arrow was pointing at the location of the “Obama stash?”
Report Post »El Pistoffo
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:12amYou guys have it all wrong, it’s the Green Lantern. If you look closely you’ll see that the arrow comes from his ring.
Report Post »BOMUSTGO
Posted on September 3, 2011 at 1:19am@ Captain Crunch…Obama is from the “Pinhead” Galaxy.
Report Post »