Galaxy and supernova in Virgo
The supernova was discovered on May 6, 2020. My image was taken about 2 weeks later, and by comparing its brightness to nearby stars I estimate its magnitude to be about 14.3. Messier 61 has a history of frequent supernovae--this is its 7th recorded supernova, with the first one occurring in 1926.
| Magnitude | 9.6 |
| Apparent Size | 6.5' x 5.9' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 52 million |
| Right Ascension | 12:21.9 |
| Declination | +4 28 |
| Field of View | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 33 minutes luminance and 18 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG STF-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
May 21, 2020