A small telescope is all that’s needed to hunt down this exploding star in our neighbouring galaxy.
Supernovae are spectacular astronomical events that mark the explosive deaths of massive stars. Here is a short rundown on what all the excitement is about with this rare sky event and provide tips on how you can attempt to locate and observe it.
Telescope image of Pinwheel Galaxy on May 20, 2023 with marked location of supernova SN2023ixf. Credit: Florian Rünger
- Supernova location: The supernova lies within the Pinwheel Galaxy located some 21 million light years from Earth. This means that this blast happened 21 million years ago and the light has taken that long to reach us here on Earth. So in all likelihood all physical evidence of this explosive cloud of debris has long disappeared.
- Background Info: It is what astronomers call a Type II supernova – an explosion of a highly massive, aging star much larger than our own Sun that suddenly collapse under its own weight and triggers a thermonuclear blast that can be seen over large cosmic distances across the Universe.
- History: The supernova is called SN 2023ixf and it was discovered on May 19th by a Japanese skywatcher when it was still shining at a feeble 14.9 magnitude (naked-eye limit is 6.0 magnitude). Within hours it shot up by more than an entire order of magnitude and brightened to a peak of magnitude 11.0 – which puts it within the observing range of common, small backyard telescopes. As of this date (June 1, 2023) it is still shining around 11.0-11.3 magnitude- track it’s current and historical brightness here.
- Telescope needed: A telescope with a moderate to large aperture will be required to observe the supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy. Apertures with at least 4 inches (10 cm) will be needed for observing faint objects like this distant supernova.
- Locating the Pinwheel Galaxy: The Pinwheel Galaxy is located in the northern constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear), the home of the famous Big Dipper pattern of stars. The galaxy sits near the last two stars of the handle of the Big Dipper (Mizar and Alkaid) – and forms a neat triangle formation with these two, bright, naked-eye stars.
Credit: SkySafari
Credit: SkySafari - Observing the Galaxy: The galaxy brightness is at 7.9 magnitude however only the bright core is visible through small telescopes (< 4 inch) since the spiral arms are so diffuse and low-contrast. Observing from a dark sky location – with minimal light pollution – will help resolve the galaxy’s spiral arms. Due to its location in the sky, this event is only visible to skywatcher across the Northern Hemisphere. Try using a star chart or a mobile app to identify the major stars and find your way to the Pinwheel Galaxy.
- Identifying the Supernova: Before you begin observing the supernova, it’s important to identify its exact location within the Pinwheel Galaxy. It sits near the end of one of its spiral arms and is the brightest single star visible across the entire galaxy so it makes it easier to track down. Check the latest online astronomical images and news on its current brightness.
- Dark Skies: Find a dark observing site away from city lights to minimize light pollution and enhance your chances of seeing the supernova clearly. Allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for at least 20 minutes before observing. This will improve your ability to see faint objects.
- Star-Hopping: Use nearby stars as reference points to navigate your telescope to the Pinwheel Galaxy. Slowly move from star to star until you reach the target area.
- Averted Vision: When observing faint objects like supernovae, try using a technique called averted vision. Instead of looking directly at the object, focus your gaze slightly to the side. This can make faint objects appear more clearly.
