Supernova SN 2011fe in Messier 101

Last update: 16 Mar. 2013

 

 

M101 and SN 2011fe, 15 Mar. 2013

M101 and SN 2011fe, 15 Mar. 2013

 

 

 

 

The image above is very interesting. M101 was imaged about 19 months after supernova SN 2011fe was discovered and the star is still visible, properly marked. We measured a brightness of 19.7 mag., unfiltered. On the upper left corner, the supernova is shown around its maximum brightness, about 10 mags brighter. So, in the last picture, the object is about 10.000 times fainter.

On Aug 24, 2011, a supernova suspect was reported in M101 the famous “Pinwheel” galaxy in Ursa Major. This potential supernova was caught when it was still rising, giving to the astronomers a unique chance to track it since the beginning of the explosion.

M101 and its supernova suspect, imaged at the Virtual Telescope on 25 Aug. 2011

M101 and its supernova suspect, imaged at the Virtual Telescope on 25 Aug. 2011

The Virtual Telescope joined this task since the very beginning, confirming the presence of a bright object, much brigher than at the discovery time. The object was still not officially announced.

Our image was captured with the Planewave 17″ unit, part of the Virtual Telescope Project. A total of 15 exposures, with 3 minutes of integration each, were averaged; images were unguided, completely trusting the Paramount ME mount, by Software Bisque. The CCD camera is a SBIG STL-6303E. The image scale is of 1.8 “/pixel and the galaxy was quite low above the horizon when the images were collected.

Later, the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams announced the discovery of supernova SN 2011fe, which resulted to be a type  Ia supernova caught at the very beginning of the explosion.

The discovery circular included photometry and astrometry from our early observations.

We reserved a good coverage to this supernova, getting some interesting data and a nice lightcurve. Also, we created an animation showing how the object changed its brightness over the months following the discovery.

Supernova SN 2011fe: lightcurve

Supernova SN 2011fe: lightcurve

 

 

SN 2011fe in M101: animation

SN 2011fe in M101: animation

 

M101, before and after the SN 2011fe explosion

M101, before and after the SN 2011fe explosion

 

 

M101 and SN 2011fe, 11 Sep. 2011

M101 and SN 2011fe, 11 Sep. 2011

M101 and SN 2011fe, 11 Sep. 2011

M101 and SN 2011fe, 6 Sep. 2011

M101 and SN 2011fe, 27 Aug. 2011

M101 and SN 2011fe, 27 Aug. 2011

 

 

Back to “Supernovae” page

 

Support The Virtual Telescope Project!

Support us! Please, donate and receive an EXCLUSIVE image of COMET C/2020 F3 Neowise above the monumets of Rome and much more, specifically made for supporters like you!

(you can adjust the amount later)

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *