Messier 81, Messier 82 and supernova SN 2014J: an image

Messier 81 and Messier 82, the latter hosting supernova SN 2014J

Messier 81 and Messier 82, the latter hosting supernova SN 2014J

The recently discovered supernova SN 2014J is hosted by the well-known irregular galaxy Messier 82. This cosmic island, about 12 millions of light years from us, is making a very beautiful couple with Messier 81, a very elegant spiral galaxy. Both M81 and M82 were discovered by Bode in 1774.

On 24 Feb. 2014, we used the Planewave 17 robotic unit to capture a two-fields mosaic covering both the galaxies. It was just a test, so we did a couple of images per field, each integrated for 300 seconds. The result is above and shows such a beautiful couple suspended in space and time, with the supernova shining in M82

 

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