Today's Image

Supernova in the Superwind Galaxy

View larger. | The crosshairs mark the location of the supernova in the galaxy NGC 4666.  Photo taken January 2, 2015 by Justin Ng of Singapore.  Visit Justin Ng's website.
View larger. | The crosshairs mark the location of the supernova in the galaxy NGC 4666. Photo taken January 2, 2015 by Justin Ng of Singapore. Exposure time 2 hours. Visit Justin Ng Photo.

In December, 2014, astronomers spotted a supernova in the spiral galaxy NGC 4666. They gave it the temporary designation ASASSN-14lp. The spiral galaxy and the supernova are approximately 80 million light-years from Earth. The galaxy is also known as the Superwind Galaxy because its rapid star formation creates a superwind of outflowing gas.

Justin Ng in Singapore captured the images on this page of the spiral galaxy. You can see this Type Ia supernova marked by crosshairs in his image above, and, if you’ll compare with his image below, you’ll understand how astronomers discover supernovae!

This was the second-brightest supernova of 2014, although, with a magnitude of 11, it can only be seen through telescopes.

Thank you, Justin Ng.

Have a telescope? Want to see the supernova? Check out Bob King’s excellent article.

Superwind galaxy without supernova.  Photo by Justin Ng.
Superwind galaxy without supernova. Photo by Justin Ng.

Bottom line: Astronomers discovered a supernova in NGC 4666 in December, 2014. Justin Ng of Singapore captured an image of the supernova – which has a temporary designation ASASSN-14lp – on January 2, 2015.

Posted 
January 4, 2015
 in 
Today's Image

Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Deborah Byrd

View All