Supernova 2023ixf as seen on 20 May 2023
| |
| Supernova | |
| Date | c. 21 million years ago (detected 19 May 2023, 17:27 UTC by Koichi Itagaki)[1] |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ursa Major |
| Right ascension | 14h03m 38.6s[2] |
| Declination | +54° 18′ 42.1″[2] |
| Epoch | J2000 |
| Distance | c. 21 million ly[2] |
| Host | Pinwheel Galaxy[3] |
| Progenitor | Supergiant (M=–4.66)[4] |
| Peak apparent magnitude | 10.8 (on 22 May 2023)[5][6] |
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SN 2023ixf is a type II-L[7][8] (core collapse) supernova located in the Pinwheel Galaxy. It was first observed on 19 May 2023 by Kōichi Itagaki and immediately classified as a type II supernova.[2] Initial magnitude at discovery was 14.9.[2] After discovery, the Zwicky Transient Facility project found a precovery image of the supernova at magnitude 15.87 two days before discovery.[9] The supernova was about 21 million light-years from Earth and is expected to have left behind either a neutron starorblack hole, based on current stellar evolution models.
The supernova is located near a prominent HII region, NGC 5461, in an outer spiral arm of the bright galaxy.[3]
By 22 May 2023, SN 2023ixf had brightened to about magnitude 11.[5][6] It could be seen in telescopes as small as 114 mm (4.5 in)[3] and remained visible with backyard telescopes for several months.[10] The supernova started to fade around 10 June 2023.[11]
The last supernova that close to Earth occurred 9 years previously: SN 2014JinMessier 82, roughly 12 million light-years from Earth.
| Supernova | Galaxy | Distance | Type | Peak apmag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SN 2023ixf | Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) | 21 Mly (6.4 Mpc) | II | 10.8 |
| SN 2014J | M82 (Cigar Galaxy) | 12 Mly (3.7 Mpc) | Ia | 10.1[12] |
| SN 2011fe | Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) | 21 Mly (6.4 Mpc) | Ia | 9.9[13] |
Before becoming a supernova, the progenitor star is believed to have been a supergiant with an absolute magnitude in the near-infrared (814nm) of MF814W = –4.66.[4]
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