Supernova in M51

keith, Conor, Martin, thanks for your reply, but it now leads me to my next question: What's the difference between a nova and a Supernova?
Bill H.

A nova is a double star system that suddenly increases in brightness, it is composed of a red giant star and a white dwarf star, which is much more massive in weight, it's gravity pulls material off the red giant star. When enough material is collected, all this goes into nuclear runaway i.e it ignites and hence the massive increase in brightness, there can be slow, fast and intermediate novae. There are also ones that are recurrent, blowing more than once.

There are two types of supernova, both of which actually destroy the star(s) involved. One type is like above type1, the other is a massive star (type2) which has burned it's fuel so fast, that when it fuses iron, it can make no more new elements. Any fuel left is burned away, the outward pressure of starlight is overcome by gravity, the irn core collapses, and 'bounces' outward at an unimaginable speed, destroying the star. The light incresae from this is far much more than an ordinary nova, the death of a star :shock:

Hope this helps,
Keith..

Many thanks keith.
Bill.

Anyone have any pics, or has anyone observed this m51 sn yet? Is it likely to brighten much more?

I couldnt see it myself.

I heard of one visual report from an american observer who said it was mag 14 so it must be fading.

I haven't even seen the sky at night for weeks now, let alone the supernova. We get glorious sunshine most days, then every day on my way home the clouds roll in and the rain starts. :evil: I'm scared I forget how to align my scope. I haven't had my new lenses out of their case except to drool over them, and my new nebula filter is the same.
Another question while I'm here. If this supernova had happened in our galaxy, would we eventually see a nebula, or is it some other type of star death that makes nebula?
Bill H.