NGC 7722 and supernova SN 2020ssf: an image – 8 Oct. 2020
We imaged the bright supernova SN 2020ssf and its host galaxy NGC 7722, as part of our supernova follow-up program: here it is our image.
The image above comes from the average of twelve, 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.
The host, NGC 7720, is a lenticular galaxy classified as Active Galaxy Nucleus (AGN): it is placed at about 200 millions of light years. As for the supernova, we estimated SN 2020ssf as bright as mag. 14.8 (unfiltered, R-mags for the reference stars from the Gaia DR1 star catalogue), but this estimate can be affected by the bright nucleus, being the transient so close to it. This supernova was discovered on 6 Sept. 2020 by the Zwicky Transient Facility and it is a type Ia supernova.
Further observations will follow, weather permitting.
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