Supernova caught in its exploding act?

[Blue Fire]

From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...083001673.html re SN2006aj

Supernova caught in its exploding act
Reuters
Wednesday, August 30, 2006; 1:05 PM

LONDON (Reuters) - Teams of international scientists have used observations from NASA's Swift satellite and other telescopes to witness the evolution of a cosmic blast into a stellar explosion or supernova.

The blast is thought to be a milder type of gamma-ray burst (GRB) -- the most powerful type of explosion known to astronomers -- called an X-ray flash.

It is known as GRB060218 after the February 18 date it began in the constellation of Aries about 440 million light years away.

In another article elsewhere on the net ( I don't remember now), this supernova (SN2006aj) was predicted to brighten to magnitude 16-17 over the next 2 weeks. Is this something that any of you guys out there with equipment can detect and track?

[dmill1220]

Hi Blue fire!
I have the equipment to go that faint but, the weather isnt cooperating up here in NH . Im afraid that this one is going to get away from me!
darn that sucks! this is one of my personal projects!
looks like someone yanked this one right out of my reach!
I need some really good luck to be looking at the right Galaxy and at the right time with good weather and seeing.
But thats the fun of it right! getting all those variables to fall in place!
Do you have the web adresss of this SN2006aj discovery so that I can take a look?
Dennis

[Blue Fire]

The only other link I have re SN2006aj other than the washington post article in my original post is here. Good luck to you! I often fight the weather where I am too.

[dmill1220]

Oh well its too low in my horizon from my location and with the sky glow and the moon in its current phase im SOL!
I usually Image from my home location and since im targeting galaxies for Supernovas I wait for the new moon anyway its a slow process for me maybe someday Ill get lucky!'you just never Know!
thanks '
DENNIS

[Blue Fire]

Originally Posted by dmill1220

Oh well its too low in my horizon from my location and with the sky glow and the moon in its current phase im SOL!
I usually Image from my home location and since im targeting galaxies for Supernovas I wait for the new moon anyway its a slow process for me maybe someday Ill get lucky!'you just never Know!
thanks '
DENNIS

Nuts! Too bad you can't get that supernova - it would be so cool to be in touch with someone here that was tracking it.

But, I was out earlier today, or rather yesterday now, when the moon was only about 30 degrees up and it was a fantastic muted orange. Very easy on the eyes and a great view through binocs! I never get tired of looking.

[stuart]

Yeah, with classes having started and Denver being in the East of my field, I won't be trying to image this supernova. Good luck to anyone who tries!

[dmill1220]

Dont you just hate Murphy's Law!
Ouch LOL!

Dennis