                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2023 October 11
   A nearby spiral galaxy is shown in great details: NGC 1097. However the
   galaxy is imaged twice, once with a supernova spot appearing on a lower
     spiral arm, and once without. The two frames blink back and forth.
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                   NGC 1097: Spiral Galaxy with Supernova
      Image Data: Telescope Live (Chile); Image Processing & Copyright:
                               Bernard Miller

   Explanation: What's happening in the lower arm of this spiral galaxy? A
   supernova. Last month, supernova SN 2023rve was discovered with UAE's
   Al-Khatim Observatory and later found to be consistent with the death
   explosion of a massive star, possibly leaving behind a black hole.
   Spiral galaxy NGC 1097 is a relatively close 45 million light years
   away and visible with a small telescope toward the southern
   constellation of the Furnace (Fornax). The galaxy is notable not only
   for its picturesque spiral arms, but also for faint jets consistent
   with ancient star streams left over from a galactic collision --
   possibly with the small galaxy seen between its arms on the lower left.
   The featured image highlights the new supernova by blinking between two
   exposures taken several months apart. Finding supernovas in nearby
   galaxies can be important in determining the scale and expansion rate
   of our entire universe -- a topic currently of unexpected tension and
   much debate.

   APOD editor to speak: in Houghton, Michigan on Thursday, October 12 at
                                    6 pm
                     Tomorrow's picture: The Garnet Star
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

