Comments for Westminster Astronomical Society, Inc. http://www.westminsterastro.org Astronomy is looking up! Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:52:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 Comment on Observing Tips by Brian http://www.westminsterastro.org/observing-notes-2#comment-9 Brian Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:52:29 +0000 http://www.westminsterastro.org/?page_id=252#comment-9 Did some research... The supernova in M51 is a Type II-L. Type II-L supernovae show a linear decline following the peak brightness. The luminosity decays a rate of 0.012 magnitudes per day for Type II-L. The difference in the shape of the light curves (of the different Type IIs) is believed to be caused, in the case of Type II-L supernovae, by the expulsion of most of the hydrogen envelope of the progenitor star. Hope that helps. Did some research… The supernova in M51 is a Type II-L.
Type II-L supernovae show a linear decline following the peak brightness. The luminosity decays a rate of 0.012 magnitudes per day for Type II-L.

The difference in the shape of the light curves (of the different Type IIs) is believed to be caused, in the case of Type II-L supernovae, by the expulsion of most of the hydrogen envelope of the progenitor star. Hope that helps.

]]> Comment on Observing Tips by Brian http://www.westminsterastro.org/observing-notes-2#comment-8 Brian Sun, 05 Jun 2011 21:09:02 +0000 http://www.westminsterastro.org/?page_id=252#comment-8 My thoughts exactly Curt! Supernovae are suppose to be brighter than the galaxy it resides in. This one I can only guess is obscured by dust? But I would have assumed the event would have blown the dust away. So you got me on this one. My thoughts exactly Curt! Supernovae are suppose to be brighter than the galaxy it resides in. This one I can only guess is obscured by dust? But I would have assumed the event would have blown the dust away. So you got me on this one.

]]> Comment on Observing Tips by Curt http://www.westminsterastro.org/observing-notes-2#comment-7 Curt Sat, 04 Jun 2011 04:07:08 +0000 http://www.westminsterastro.org/?page_id=252#comment-7 For such a close galaxy, that new supernova is M51 seems awfully faint. For such a close galaxy, that new supernova is M51 seems awfully faint.

]]> Comment on Observing Tips by Brian http://www.westminsterastro.org/observing-notes-2#comment-6 Brian Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:30:08 +0000 http://www.westminsterastro.org/?page_id=252#comment-6 I will be looking for the possible nova in Scorpius tonight with TU's spectrometer tonight. I will be looking for the possible nova in Scorpius tonight with TU’s spectrometer tonight.

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