Suspect Supernova M108?

[Adam Rawlinson]

Hello 

My first posting here and dont quite know what to do.

I have just been looking at M108 and I have convinced myself that a supernova is present.

Seems a bit unbelievable so is anyone any to check the attached image and/or have a look and confirm.?

I have a FIT file and taking some better exposures as we speak.

Dont shoot me down if this an error – but I cannot see an easy way to find out about reports and none of the images I have taken before have this pronounced bright point (normally seems far less bright) 

Thanks

Adam Rawlinson 

Attachments:

1. 

   C_M108-140418.jpg
   

[Eric Watkins]

Hi Adam,

After reading your post I managed several  images of M108  no filter at 60 and 30 sec and with a V filter at 60 sec at about 02.00-0230 UT on 2018-04-20

If you are referring to the bright centre (forground) star then this appears in images I’ve quickly looked at and  hence do not think there is any urgency and  will delay processing until later today as I’m far too tired now.

Eric (Essex, UK)

[Eric Watkins]

P.S.

Apologies I used a  Celestron 14 edge + paramount MEII + QSI532

Eric

[Andy Wilson]

Hi Adam,

On this ocassion I think it is a foreground star. I’ve found some old images which show the bright star at that position.

http://www.astrocruise.com/galaxies/m108.htm

http://www.astrosurf.com/jwisn/m108.htm

Though this bright star near the centre is not always so obvious as can be seen from Graham Winstanley’s image.

https://britastro.org/node/10192

It might be that it is a variable star, or possibly a very red star that shows up more prominently in some images than others depending on filters and equipment sensitivity. I’ve tried to identify the star to confirm its nature, but no luck.

Good call though as it is always a good idea to check images for the unexpected.

Cheers,

Andy

[Dr Paul Leyland]

It is very likely 2MASS 11112688+5540232 which is indeed quite red. V=12.538, J=11.272 according to Vizier.

[Eric Watkins]

Following my earlier posts I have attached a couple of my images.  The foreground star is obvious, however, linear stretching reveals a fainter star close to this foreground star that gets lost in the glare of the brighter star.  I’ve not yet checked to see if this is normal in other archived images.

Images taken on 2018-04-20  @ 02:37 and 02:21 hrs Ut  Unfiltered @ 60sec and 20 sec exposure respectively.

Using C14 edge F:7.7, QSI 532 CCD camera, binned 3×3

I also have V filtered images should they be required.

Regards,

Eric

[Dr Paul Leyland]

That one looks like 2MASS 11112757+554027  with J=14.822

[Eric Watkins]

Thanks Paul, mystery solved it would seem.

Eric

[Dr Paul Leyland]

Perhaps.  IMAO you should check my assessment.  I could well be wrong and have been many times in the past.

[Eric Watkins]

Paul,

just checked an image on Wikipedia and the images match-no SN.

Cheers,

Eric

[Andy Wilson]

The online resources of SIMBAD and Aladin can be very useful for investigations.

http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/

http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/aladin.gml

Here is M108 in Aladin Lite displaying an SDSS9 image with 2MASS point sources:

http://aladin.unistra.fr/AladinLite/?target=11%2011%2030.967%2B55%2040%2026.84&fov=0.18&survey=P%2FSDSS9%2Fcolor

Cheers,

Andy

[Adam Rawlinson]

Thanks folks for all those helpful replies.

Well I was glad I raised to question as now know where to look for verification etc…

Will keep looking though!

Adam

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