This image of M101 was taken at the Loon Lake dark-sky sight on Sept. 2nd and 3rd by Chuck Webb, Walter Davies and me. The super nova is the bright star-like object in the 8 o'clock position on the outer edge of the galaxy. For us this was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity. The super nova was in its 11th day of its existence, close to its brightest moment.
It is extremely rare that a super nova would occur in a galaxy that is close enough to be imaged by amateur equipment. And for it to have occurred 24 million light years and 11 days before we were to be at Loon Lake makes even more remarkable. As I post this, in a matter of days super nova will dim and not be visible. The timing couldn't have been better.
