A Supernova in Nearby Galaxy NGC 2403
The closest and brightest supernova in over a decade was
recorded just over a month ago in the outskirts of
nearby galaxy NGC 2403.
Officially tagged
SN 2004dj, the
Type IIP
explosion likely annihilated most of a blue
supergiant star as central
fusion could no longer hold it up.
The supernova
can be seen as the bright object in the
above image in the direction of the arrow.
The home galaxy to the supernova, spiral galaxy
NGC 2403, is located only 11 million light years away and is visible with binoculars
toward the northern constellation of Camelopardalis (the Giraffe).
The supernova is fading but still visible with a telescope,
once peaking at just brighter than
magnitude 12.
Supernovas
of this type change brightness in a predictable way and may be
searched for in the
distant universe as distance indicators.