The "Double Star" Supernova, 2005/3/15 UT

I was able to observe, but just barely, the recent supernova SN 2005am
on Monday night using the 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain at the ASH
Naylor Observatory. SN 2005am is a bright (13.5 magnitude) type Ia
supernova that is located 17".6 east and 31" north of the center of the
11th magnitude spiral galaxy NGC 2811 in western Hydra. A "bright" star
is situated approximately 8" southwest of SN 2005am. The result is a
faux double star consisting of a star and an exploded star.

The supernova has a right ascension of 09h16m12s.47 and a declination
of -16=B018'16".0. It was discovered on 2005/02/22.733 by R. Martin.

NGC 2811 is on the Astronomical League's Herschel 400 list and is not
particularly difficult to find. It is located to the southwest of
Alphard (Alpha Hydrae). The galaxy has a bright stellar core but is
otherwise unremarkable.

These two images are the most helpful in identifying the supernova of
the ones I've seen:

http://astrosurf.com/jmllapasset/pub...00503102102.J=
PG


http://astrosurf.com/blazar/super/SN05/SN2005am-rod.JPG

I had no problems acquiring NGC 2811 at 162x (40mm University Optics
MK-70). Unfortunately, it was sitting right on top of the light dome
produced by our friendlly neighborhood all-night ski run. On top of
that, the astronomical seeing was very poor, which made a definite
sighting even harder. Using averted vision and just a bit of averted
imagination at magnifications of 202 (32mm U.O. Koenig-II) and 259x
(25mm U.O. MK-70), I was able to catch fleeting glimpses of SN 2005am
and its "companion" star.=20

Dave Mitsky