Supernova SN 2023ixf in the spiral galaxy Messier 101, one-thousand days after its peak: an extraordinary image – 17 Feb. 2026.
We captured the important supernova SN 2023ixf in the iconic Messier 101 spiral galaxy 1,000 days after its peak, now that is almost 10,000 times fainter than at that time.
SN 2023ixf in Messier 101: 1,000 days after its peak. 17 Feb. 2026.
The image above comes from the average of 16, 300-second, unguided exposures, unfiltered, remotely taken with the the Celestron C14+Paramount ME+SBIG ST10-XME robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project in Manciano, Italy. The supernova is indicated by an arrow in the upper right insert.
We estimated SN 2023ixf as bright as mag. 20.5 (R-mags for the reference stars from the Gaia DR2 star catalogue). On May 2023, this supernova peaked at mag. 10.8, so at that time it was almost 10,000 times brighter than today. Being so faint now, the magnitude estimate above has an error around 0.5 mag. or so.
Seeing this object 1,000 days after its maximum was a truly special experience: we never did something similar, so SN 2023ixf is an incredible record for our facility, supported by the proximity of the source. When it exploded in May 2023, SN 2023ixf became one of the brightest and most observed supernovae in recent years, offering a rare opportunity to witness the death of a massive star in real time. Now, as its light slowly fades, it still provides valuable insights into the aftermath of stellar explosions.
Located about 21 million light-years from Earth, M 101 offers a stunning backdrop for this cosmic, dramatic event.
We plan further follow up in the next months.
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