NGC 5002 and supernova SN 2020qxp: an image – 19 Aug. 2020

We imaged supernova SN 2020qxp and its host galaxy NGC 5002, as part of our supernova follow-up program: here it is our image.

NGC 5002 and supernova SN 2020qxp - 19 Aug. 2020

NGC 5002 and supernova SN 2020qxp – 19 Aug. 2020

The images above come each from the average of six, 120-seconds exposures, unfiltered, remotely taken with the “Elena” (PlaneWave 17″+Paramount ME+SBIG STL-6303E) robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project. The supernova is indicated by an arrow in the upper left inset. Images were taken one week apart and show how SN 2020qxp increased its brightness.

The host spiral galaxy, NGC 5002, is placed at about 40 millions of light years from our planet and its a Magellanic spiral galaxy, having the Large Magellanic Cloud as the prototype of this class. As for the supernova, we estimated SN 2020qxp as bright as mag. 15.4 (13 Aug.) and 14.4 (19 Aug.) – unfiltered, R-mags for the reference stars from the Gaia DR1 star catalogue. This transient was discovered on 8 Aug. 2020 by the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (internal designation: ASASSN-20jq; we are very proud to be part of the team!) and it is a type Ia supernova.

Further observations will follow, weather permitting.

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