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                           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 May 22   
       A sprawling spiral galaxy is pictured with a new bright spot visible   
      near the image bottom. This spot is a recently discovered supernova. A   
       roll-over image shows the same galaxy in an image taken the previous   
       month without the new supernova spot. Please see the explanation for   
                            more detailed information.   
      
                 Supernova Discovered in Nearby Spiral Galaxy M101   
                      Image Credit & Copyright: Craig Stocks   
      
      Explanation: A nearby star has exploded and humanity's telescopes are   
      turning to monitor it. The supernova, dubbed SN 2023ixf, was discovered   
      by Japanese astronomer Koichi Itagaki three days ago and subsequently   
      located on automated images from the Zwicky Transient Facility two days   
      earlier. SN 2023ixf occurred in the photogenic Pinwheel Galaxy M101,   
      which, being only about 21 million light years away, makes it the   
      closest supernova seen in the past five years, the second closest in   
      the past 10 years, and the second supernova found in M101 in the past   
      15 years. Rapid follow up observations already indicate that SN 2023ixf   
      is a Type II supernova, an explosion that occurs after a massive star   
      runs out of nuclear fuel and collapses. The featured image shows home   
      spiral galaxy two days ago with the supernova highlighted, while the   
      roll-over image shows the same galaxy a month before. SN 2023ixf will   
      likely brighten and remain visible to telescopes for months. Studying   
      such a close and young Type II supernova may yield new clues about   
      massive stars and how they explode.   
      
                      Tomorrow's picture: just above jupiter   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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