Topic: Taking The Pulse Of A Supernova – NGC 4490

[sam]

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/03/07/taking-the-pulse-of-a-supernova-ngc-4490/

Way out yonder some 40 to 50 million light years away in the constellation of Canes Venetici is a pair of interacting galaxies sometimes referred to as "The Cocoon". These two mis-shaped blobs of star stuff have already made their closest approach to each other and are now parting ways. Between them stretches a trail of stars that spans some 24,000 light years as they face each other showing off their numerous star-forming regions. But where there is life… There is death. Let's put our finger right on the pulse of a supernova.

Its in my favourite constellation! Canes Venetici... nice and a simple one. 

[Simon]

Way out yonder some 40 to 50 million light years away...

What's 10 million light years between friends? 

[sam]

 

[Clive]

It's a lovely constellation full of wonderful objects such as the WHIRLPOOL GALAXY and the globular cluster Messier 3

[sam]

indeed, just why its my favourite.. .also a constellation that's two stars always keeps me happy!

[Clive]

And if you can find the Plough, you can find Canes Venaciti and it's deep sky treasures.

[sam]

yep, nice and simple really. I always have fun pointing that one out - especially to newcomers.

And Clive, seriously using the plough... doesn't Mr Jag just use his GPS telescope?

[Clive]

I'm used to star hopping and find it very satisfying.  

[sam]

yeah I can appreciate that... nothing like finding the object on your own.

[Clive]

My Meade ETX computer is one of the very early ones and it's not very good anyway.  I think they've improved dramatically over the years. 

[sam]

yep indeed they have.

I assume yours doesn't have GPS? The newer ones do and they are pretty cool.

[Clive]

No mine doesn't have GPS.  I have to get fixes on 3 stars which is easy enough to do but the system isn't good enough to get a requested object in the field of view.  Just outside maybe.     This was a well-known problem with the early systems and is what prompted the MIGHTY WEASNER website to start up.  Have you used the GPS system?  I don't think anyone at our society has one. 

[sam]

I've used one before (a few times, mostly people who have bought a telescope just cause and got a real expensive one cause they thought they had to) - was fantastic but not much better than the modern 3star alignment methods. The real solution is to get a fixed observatory though.

Oh and that looks like a useful site!

[Clive]

For ETX owners it's the Bible.   

[sam]

lol