A Supernova in Nearby Galaxy NGC 2403

The closest and brightest supernova in over a decade was recorded just over a month ago in the outskirts of nearby galaxy NGC 2403. Officially tagged SN 2004dj , the Type IIP explosion likely annihilated most of a blue supergiant star as central fusion could no longer hold it up . The supernova can be seen as the bright object in the above image in the direction of the arrow. The home galaxy to the supernova, spiral galaxy NGC 2403 , is located only 11 million light years away and is visible with binoculars toward the northern constellation of Camelopardalis (the Giraffe ). The supernova is fading but still visible with a telescope, once peaking at just brighter than magnitude 12. Supernovas of this type change brightness in a predictable way and may be searched for in the distant universe as distance indicators.