"Brightest Supernova"?

These news reports today claiming "brightest supernova"
really mean to say "most luminous supernova" true?

Steve

"Steve Pope" wrote in message
...
These news reports today claiming "brightest supernova"
really mean to say "most luminous supernova" true?

Steve

You are right. It was not exactly a naked eye object.

I think this refers to 2006 gy in NGC1260, and the brightest it got was
around 14-15 mag. Currently this galaxy is roughly due N of the Sun by c.
20 deg hence currently unobservable.

In terms of luminosity it was probably the most luminous SN on record, in
terms of peak magnitude and possibly of integrated energy output. In our
galaxy we have something that may do the same some day, Eta Carinae.

--
Mike Dworetsky

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