M51 Supernova

[heinerv]

Has anyone spotted the supernova in M51. Estimated at mag 14, so it would take a big scope

[heinerv]

I should add that I tried last night, Friday, and didn't spot it using my 12". However, we were at a retreat center so there were lights around and I didn't know where it was in the galaxy.

[Dennis_Faith]

Dick located it in his 20" then Ken showed it to us in the 30" at LLCC last night. It was a challenge in the 16", It would fade in and out but mostly out. The seeing was OK at best but it was definitely there!

[Dick Jacobson]

I think it had faded to magnitude 14.5 or less. I could see it at least half of the time in my 20". I couldn't see it in Alan's 12.5" but others said they could. It was easy to see in the 30", and the view of the galaxy was magnificent!

[Deane Clark]

It was pretty obvious in the 20" Obsession at Onan tonight. It was just about a direct view object. It was seen in several other scopes at Onan, including my 250mm Mewlon DK cassegrain. In the 250 it was coming and going, but consistently so, and at least a few people besides me saw it in the 250. I wonder if it has brightened since last night. How was the seeing at LLCC Friday night? Was it hazy?

[merle]

Got a shot of it from the imaging platform monitor at Onan. We were able to spot it in the C-14 and LX200 (w/ 13mm Ethos) quite easily...as well as the 20" and other scopes.


http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1106/m5 ... ey_440.gif

[Dick Jacobson]

How was the seeing at LLCC Friday night? Was it hazy?

The transparency was rather poor. Before sunset the sky was "milky", not distinctly blue. Later the Milky Way was visible but not full of detail like on a good night at LLCC. Seeing was also mediocre, faint stars tended to fade in and out of view. I couldn't see the jet in M87, which I've caught a glimpse of in my 20" on better nights.

[SEmert]

Dave Falkner and I were able to see the M51 supernova in the 24" Starmaster B.A.D. at Cherry Grove last night. We had fairly poor transparency conditions, with spotty clouds forming and dissipating over our heads throughout the night. But the view of M51 was good. We could clearly see the supernova and could clearly see the spiral arm structure of both galaxies that make up M51.

[Deane Clark]

The seeing and transparency were both kind of poor at Onan Saturday as well. I hope it lasts long enough to be seen under really clear, steady conditions. I bet it will really "pop" (pun intended but only just as I typed it).

[MarkC]

I managed to see it only via a 5 sec exposure on my camera - through light polluted Roseville skies.

I have a photo of it in the photo gallery

Mark

[Kurt A. Casby]

Hi All,

I had a great time Saturday evening out at Onan. I managed to see the SN in M51 though the 20" 'Padre", the 16" LX200, and Deane's 10" Mewlon. I also had a good look via the StellaCam 3 on the video rig. My thanks to the folks staffing Onan, and special thanks to Bob, Clayton, Deane, and Merle for making my trip a success!

Last night I took a quick and dirty image on the SN in M51. Tough target from the POD in my back yard, so only managed a few exposures. Still, the SN is obvious. I posted it in the photo gallery.

Thanks again to everyone out at Onan Saturday. I had a great time!

Clear Skies,
Kurt