As part of the Raheny Observatory Extragalactic Supernova Survey (ROSS) some interesting known supernovae have been observed.  A full list of recently discovered supernovae is available on the IAU website.

NGC 6621 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Draco.  It liea at at distance of 89megaparsecs (about 290million light years).  Therefore it has taken about this time (290million years) for the light from this exploding star to reach earth. An extraordinary though provoking fact is that we are really looking back in time by this distance.

SN2010hi was discovered on Sept 01 2010 by Mr. Ron Arbour, South Wonston, Hampshire, UK (Observatory Code 979).

The following image was captured by me on October 1st from Raheny Observatory (Code J41).  It clearly shows the supernova (marked).   A measurement taken of the brightness of the supernova shows it currently shines at magnitude +18.5 which is just slightly fainter than when it was discovered about 1 month ago.  This gradual dimming is typical of supernovae as the shell of the explosion expands further into space.  in around 300 days or so the supernova will fade never to be seen again.

There is currently no spectroscopic information available which would confirmation which would classify  this explosion as a type I or type II supernova.

Click on the image for full sized image.