First Picture of Supernova 1993J

Click on the image for the 'fits' header information. M81, is a bright spiral galaxy. In spring of 1993 a Type II supernova exploded treating astronomers to the brightest supernova in 40 years. NFO was imaging the galaxy within 3 hours of the shock outbeak, one day before a Spanish astronomer discovered it. Since, the telescope is automated, the image wasn't reviewed until after the discovery, but the data helped pin the time of the explosion.

NF/ Observatory
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