Monday 27 January 2014

Supernova in M82

There is an unusually nearby supernova in the Galaxy M82. It's bright and easy to observe, and M82 is a brilliant target at this time of year.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Object of the Month: The Crab Nebula (Messier 1)


On the 4th of July 1054, a bright new star appeared in the sky. Astronomers is China, Japan and across the Arab world took notice and of course it was heralded as an omen of great importance. This new star was a supernova explosion and while the initial glow faded long ago, the aftermath of this explosion is easily seen with a telescope: the crab nebula.
A BVR+Halpha image of the Crab Nebula