Spiral galaxy in Leo with supernova
Supernova SN 2012aw was discovered in Messier 95 on March 16, 2012. The supernova is the very bright star below and slightly to the right of the nucleus of the galaxy, in the dim outermost southern arm. In this image, taken 34 days after the discovery, the supernova is still about magnitude 13, making it a fairly easy target for amateur astronomers with medium-sized telescopes.
(To compare with a larger image of Messier 95 without the supernova, click on the "Back" button.)
| Magnitude | 9.7 |
| Apparent Size | 7' x 5' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 30 million |
| Right Ascension | 10:44.0 |
| Declination | +11 42 |
| Field of View | 35' x 27' |
Image details: Exposure times of 9 minutes each of luminance, red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 12" Meade telescope at f/5.6.
April 19, 2012